Factoring customer-owned generation into forecasting, planning, and operations.
The long-predicted future of distributed generation is now becoming a reality. Customers increasingly are installing and operating behind-the-meter generation systems, creating challenges and opportunities for utilities. ConEdison’s experience demonstrates the dangers and challenges, as well as the opportunities for becoming partners with utility customers.
Integrating controllable demand into real-time, security constrained economic dispatch.
Historically, grid operators tapped into voluntary load reduction as a last resort for keeping the lights on. But now, smart grid technologies and dynamic pricing mechanisms bring vastly greater potential for using load as a dispatchable resource. Effective implementation requires advanced technologies—and also foresight in creating programs, policies, and market mechanisms.
Why Idaho is fed up with renewables.
Idaho Power has more wind power than it can use—so much that it’s costing its ratepayers a bundle. It wants out, so it won’t have to buy from all the small wind farms that claim “QF” status under the 1978 PURPA law.
Policymakers and industry seek a formula to assure competitiveness and resource adequacy.
New Jersey’s bid to force prices downward in PJM’s capacity market not only raises the alarm about market manipulation. It also reveals a dilemma that’s preventing new generation from being built. Incumbent interests and political motivations make PJM less attractive to investment than it should be.
(August 2012)
El Paso Electric announced that Thomas V. Shockley was appointed the company’s permanent CEO. Hector R. Puente was promoted to senior v.p. and COO. Duke Energy named Clark Gillespy president of the company’s South Carolina service region. Gillespy replaces Catherine Heigel who became vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at American Transmission Co. Ameren promoted Richard J. Mark to chairman, president, and CEO of Ameren Illinois. And others...
Rising expectations in the Dog Days of summer.
Yet another sweltering summer is causing its share of outages and supply problems, with predictable backlash from customers and policy makers. And with the advances we’ve seen in recent years, perhaps again we should be asking whether we’re adequately focused on our most critical mission: keeping the power on.