Distribution Planning Work Group
What's New:
- March 2008 -- Impacts of DG on Wholesale Electric Prices and Air Emissions in Massachusetts, by M. Drunsic et. al., Synapse Energy Economics, prepared for Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
- March 2008 (revised 10/8/08) -- Market Potential of Combined Heat and Power in Massachusetts, by KEMA, Inc. for Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
December 31, 2006 Report: "Distributed Energy Planning Workshop Update"
The Three Distributed Energy Planning Workshops (Fall 2006)
- Distributed Energy Planning Technical Workshops 1-3
- For background, see "Workshops to Address the Challenges for Distributed Energy Planning," Section 4.4 of the 2006 Report.
The other accomplishments to date of the Work Group are also presented in Chapter 4 of the 2006 Report and in the following Attachments:
Attachment G: DG and Distribution Planning: An Economic Analysis for the DG Collaborative (by Navigant Consulting, Jan. 2006, 229 slides, with bookmarks for key sections)
- pdf file (1.8 MB)
- note: see also Navigant Worksheets (xls files)
Attachment H: Report of Distribution Planning Work Group (DPWG) on DG and Distribution Deferral
Attachment I: Symposium on Technical and Business Challenges for DG to Play a Role in T&D Planning (meeting summary + slides)
January 25, 2006: Symposium on Technical and Business Challenges for DG to Play a Role in T&D Planning:
Presentations include:
- Charlie Salamone, Cape Power Systems Consulting: DER As A Utility Resource: Technical Issues
- Beacon Power: Large-Scale PV-based Battery Dispatchable Power
- Bill Steeley, EPRI: Case Studies and Methodologies for Using DER for T&D Support Applications: Results from the EPRI White Paper
- NSTAR: Framingham Opportunity: Status Update
- Rich Sedano: Update on Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative (MADRI)
- Fran Cummings, MTC: Overview of Potential Planning Activities
January 20, 2006: Navigant's final presentation has been posted, DG and Distribution Planning: An Economic Analysis for the Massachusetts DG Collaborative, along with the final worksheets, including the analysis of DG opportunities at customer facilities.
- Bibliography (web page with 75 references)
Information on the treatment of distributed resources for new capacity payments under ISO-New England market rules is available at the ISO Market Rules page.
December 27, 2005: the DTE issued Order 02-38-C approving a "Revised Model Interconnection Standard Tariff" and stating with respect to the Role of DG in Distribution Company Planning that:
- "The Department anticipates that the ongoing activities of the DG Collaborative will continue to result in informative and constructive recommendations on this complex set of issues." (page 12).
Meetings:
- January 25 Symposium on Technical and Business Challenges for DG to Play a Role in T&D Planning
- Last Meeting -- January 11 Distribution Planning Work Group (MTC classroon building, Westborough MA, Call-in: 866-330-1200, Code: 3648872#)
- Next Plenary Meeting -- Feb 15, 2006
- Recent Meeting -- Nov. 16 Distribution Planning Work Group
- Recent Meeting -- Oct. 19 Distribution Planning Work Group
Analysis by Navigant to the Distribution Planning Work Group
Source Materials for Reference
Click below for links to many studies, some of which were previously at this page
- Maps:
Posted Materials from Previous Meetings:
Distribution Planning Sections of May 2005 Report
- Distribution Planning Chapter 3 of 2005 Report
- EPRI Massachusetts Report (Appendix C of 2005 Report)
Information Provided by Massachusetts Distribution Companies
- August 16, 2005 -- Data on Customer Load in the 8 Opportunity Areas (Excel)
- March 9, 2005 -- Analysis of 8 Utility Distribution Planning Situations/Opportunities (Excel)
- Dec. 10, 2004 -- Utility Distribution Planning Overview (PowerPoint) -- this is an essential starting point for participation in the Distribution Planning Work Group.
- May 31, 2002 -- MassElectric Load Curtailment Pilot Program Testimony and Exhibits Filed with DTE (pdf; see bookmark to "Calculation of Load Interruption Credit" for comparison with Navigant's "Utility Planning Model"; see exhibit MDL-1 for the NPV calculation)
Miscellaneous Presentations to Work Group Meetings
(Slides not complete without accompanying oral remarks)
- October 19, 2005 Distribution Planning Work Group
- September 21, 2005 Plenary
- December 10, 200 Working Group Meeting:
- September 8, 2004 Plenary Meeting:
- Massachusetts Distribution Planning Policy (ppt) Presented by Stan Blazewicz, Navigant Consulting
- Distributed Resources in Distribution Planning: Case Projects (ppt) Presented by Tim Roughan, Massachusetts Electric
- Distributed Generation Role in Distribution Planning (ppt) Presented by Fran Cummings, MTC and Gerry Bingham, DOER
April 27, 2005 -- Comments not explicitly incorporated into Chapter 3 of 2005 Report
- DG Cluster Comments (Word)
- CSG Comments (Word)
- NECHPI Comments on Utility Substation Data (Word)
- NECHPI Utility Return on Asset Calculations (Excel)
- Synapse Comments (Word)
Related Projects
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) is a leader or sponsor of the following two projects which are closely related to the work of the Distribution Planning Working Group:
- MTC Congestion Relief Pilot Projects (web)
- EPRI DER Public/Private Partnership: Creating and Demonstrating Incentives for Electricity Providers to Integrate Distributed Energy Resources (DER):
- December 2005 -- EPRI Press Release announcing award of STAC grant to DOER
- Contact Ellen Petrill (650-855-8939) to discuss ways to participate in the EPRI DER Partnership.
A similar pilot project is underway in New Jersey, funded by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, and is described in detail in the solicitation:
- ISO-NE initiated two Work Groups in April 2006 pursuant to the LICAP Settlement Agreement:
the Intermittent Resource Group, and the Demand Resource Group.
- Information on the treatment of Distributed Resources for new capacity payments under ISO-New England market rules is available at the ISO Market Rules page.
- Information on the treatment of Distributed Resources for new capacity payments under ISO-New England market rules is available at the ISO Market Rules page.
Other Work Groups of the DG Collaborative:
This page is still under construction -- suggestions for additional resources on this topic may be directed to:
Fran Cummings, RET Policy Director
