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DEFINING THE VALUE OF THE GRID

Early in the 20th century, George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison debated and competed on the merits and benefits of AC versus DC. Later, Samuel Insull and Franklin D. Roosevelt sparred over regulatory structure. Today, technology and emerging regulatory policy are allowing the possibility of an “integrated grid” and “transactive energy.” The integrated grid uses our legacy electric generation, transmission and distribution systems as a platform for the integration of new distributed energy resource technologies such as demand response, energy storage and distributed generation (DG).

APPLYING ‘TOTEX’ TO ELECTRIC AND GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION ASSETS

As the North American electric and gas industries continue to strive for systemwide improvement, the concept of conducting life cycle cost evaluations is gaining momentum — and so is a new term to describe it. Technologies that embrace a total expenditure, or totex, approach can enhance overall asset performance. A totex plan helps you make the most of your project.

 

Click here to download this free whitepaper.

Keeping the Lights On: Addressing the challenge of distributed energy resource growth

 
The rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) is an exciting and interesting opportunity for customers, and a challenge and opportunity for the utilities and the organizations that regulate them.
 
In this white paper, West Monroe Partners takes a comprehensive look at the present and future state of DERs through multiple lenses: customer adoption and awareness; utilities’ adoption challenges and opportunities, and support and planning initiatives; and regulatory commissions’ actions, obstacles and perceptions.
 

6 Undeniable Reasons Why Utilities Must Think Digital for Customer Engagement

Customer engagement at utilities is undergoing radical change. It’s a change being driven by heightened customer expectations, multichannel communications technology, and sophisticated platforms that foster mobile and web-based self-service options. In the utility call center, it all points to “digital” — strategic architectural upgrades and added contact channels that promote a faster, easier customer experience.

Fortnightly Fall Conference - Utilities in a Time of Change & Challenge

Submitted by Joe Paparello on Tue, 2015-07-28 15:27
A can't-miss event focused on the most critical issues affecting the utility business.
 
At issue are solar rooftop panels, energy storage and microgrids, to name three such disrupters that are causing utility markets to shift sands. Together, they are making up much of the "distributed generation" market where customers are generating electricity on site – a phenomenon that is challenging the reliability of the central grid, and how those wires will be maintained and paid. 

Non-Road Electrotechnology Programs

This ICF International white paper examines an approach to evaluating the feasibility and economics of non-road electrotechnology programs. This approach promotes the displacement of fossil-fueled customer equipment with electric-powered equipment, helps electric utilities increase net margin, improves load factor, reduces net service-territory emissions, and provides indicative economics for several programs. Key topics include:

o   Electrotechnology

Regulators Taking Aim at Methane Emissions

This ICF International white paper examines the methodology differentiate between various components of lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) gas and the ways it will prepare state and local distribution companies to better manage emissions and prepare for possible U.S. federal regulation requirements.
 
As both federal and state regulators focus on methane emissions, understanding how much natural gas is lost from local distribution systems is assuming greater importance.

DNV GL survey: 82 percent of global industry respondents say electricity system can be 70 percent renewable by 2050

In ‘Beyond Integration: Three dynamics reshaping renewables and the grid,’ a recent global industry research initiative, DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts, gathered views from over 1,600 energy sector participants across more than 70 countries. The study addressed key questions on how to best move forward the integration of renewables into the global electricity grids to ensure the future of electricity. The survey points to broad global consensus that a renewables based electricity system can be achieved.

ADVANCED ENERGY NOW 2015 MARKET REPORT

This is the third annual report of market size, by revenue, of the advanced energy industry, worldwide and in the United States. Prepared for AEE by Navigant Research, Advanced Energy Now 2015 Market Report is the most comprehensive assessment of advanced energy markets ever compiled.

With nearly $200 billion in 2014 revenue, the U.S. advanced energy market is bigger than the airline industry, equal to pharmaceuticals, and almost equal to consumer electronics.