Utilities As Transactional Platforms

MCLI Recommendation: “Congress could expand PURPA to require purchase of a wider range of grid supporting services.”

LPDD Recommendation: “FERC should accept the principle that grid-edge resources, individually or in the aggregate, can submit bids in the RTO markets (and bear the tariff consequences if they fail to meet them) for specified portions or capabilities of the grid-edge resources.”

LPDD Recommendation: “FERC should continue to work toward nondiscriminatory “market participation models” that take account of the specific characteristics and capabilities of grid-edge resources.”

LPDD Recommendation: “States should assure that each energy customer is entitled to grid access on a nondiscriminatory basis to provide wholesale energy and energy services through open, transparent markets or at just and reasonable rates to the local distribution company.”

LPDD Recommendation: “Utilities can use utility-private partnerships to acquire long-term services that support the distribution system in lieu of wires solutions.”

LPDD Recommendation: “State utility commissions should consider a process, in addition to RFPs, for unsolicited proposals from grid-edge resource providers to meet needs identified in a utility distribution system plan.”

LPDD Recommendation: “State utility commissions should promote a utility business model that provides new sources of revenue and profit consistent with encouraging the growth of grid-edge resources.”

LPDD Recommendation: “State utility commissions should require and approve tariffs that make the utility indifferent as to whether the solution is achieved by a utility-private partnership or a wires solution, without the utility commission attempting to balance incentive ratemaking payments against a direct return.”