Distributed Energy Resources

Maryland lawmakers introduced the Securing Affordable, Valuable Investments in Next-Generation Grid Solutions (SAVINGS) Act (HB 723), legislation that could save customers hundreds of millions of dollars on their electricity bills. The SAVINGS Act will rein in rising electric bills by requiring utilities to prioritize cost-effective grid solutions over expensive new infrastructure.

Pennsylvanians’ electric bills are going up, and electric utilities will be spending more than ever on energy and infrastructure. In order to alleviate rising cost pressures and meet growing energy demand, United’s Chris D’Agostino examines how, with smart policy, Pennsylvania can make the most out of an untapped resource already found in homes and businesses: virtual power plants.

As utilities once again seek to raise electric rates, a new study commissioned by the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) finds that better use of existing, customer-owned energy technologies could save Texans $18.9 billion over the next decade.

This new report from Advanced Energy United’s state affiliate Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA), produced by Demand Side Analytics, finds that Texas could save billions by better integrating distributed energy resources (DERs)–like rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, and smart appliances–into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’s (ERCOT) grid planning and market operations.

United’s Samarth Medakkar discusses Michigan’s new virtual power plant (VPP) legislation, outlining how the Wolverine State can meet rising costs, rising reliability challenges, and rising energy demand through the use of VPPs and distributed energy resources (DERs) already found in homes and businesses.

United’s Brian Turner discusses new clean energy opportunities in Colorado based on the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s key proceedings filed this year and upcoming filings, highlighting Colorado’s progress in attracting new investment, scaling clean energy resources, supporting electrification, and preventing system bottlenecks.

This new report from Advanced Energy United’s state affiliate Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA), produced by Demand Side Analytics, finds that Texas could save billions by better integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) – like rooftop solar, battery storage, electric vehicles, and smart appliances – into Oncor’s grid planning and ERCOT’s market operations. 

A new study commissioned by the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA) finds that Oncor customers could save $8.5 billion over the next decade if the utility integrated more distributed energy resources (DERs) into its system planning and operations.

Outdated interconnection processes, high infrastructure costs, and regulatory misalignment are delaying the deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) and electrification technologies across the U.S. Through interviews conducted with industry stakeholder across the technology spectrum, this report identifies key barriers slowing DER adoption and outlines policy and market solutions. With nearly 400GW of new capacity expected by 2035, proactive reforms are essential to ensuring a reliable, resilient, and cost-effective energy future.

In the rapidly evolving energy landscape, a growing number of distributed energy resources (DERs) are being deployed on the grid, providing flexibility, resilience, cost savings, and clean energy to communities. However, as the number of grid-connected DERs grows, their full potential will only be realized if the right grid infrastructure is in place, including transmission systems that complement and support DER deployment.

Advanced Energy United’s report, authored by Strategen, explores the need for coordination between large-scale transmission systems and DERs, offering a roadmap to a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable grid.

This report discusses programs proposed by NV Energy in both its 2021 and 2024 Integrated Resource Plans, details where the utility could expand its programs to better leverage DERs for low-cost capacity, and provides best practices for the utility to use in developing VPPs. Regulators, legislators, stakeholders, and utilities can use this paper to better understand and develop the opportunities for DERs and VPPs in Nevada.