Distributed Energy Resource Evaluation & Planning

Today’s power grid and the utility business model are evolving rapidly as distributed energy resources (DERs) allow all types of consumers to manage and supply their own energy needs. Technologies and new entrants are changing the traditional role of the utility and a new approach to customer service and utility investment is needed. As DERs, such as solar and battery storage, continue to grow, distribution utilities will no longer only manage the one-way delivery of wholesale energy, but multiple flows in and out of their system from DERS owned by their customers. Utilities need to have a strategy and plan in place to respond to changing customer needs, threats from substitute products, and to maintain a reliable and resilient system. EnerVision’s DER evaluation and planning service helps utilities respond to these challenges and identify a plan to capture the opportunities presented by DERS and the changing needs of their customers.

EnerVision works with utilities to develop a DER strategy that incorporates aspects of their business, operations, and member services functions to evaluate, design and implement DER programs that are beneficial to the utility and their members/customers. Using EnerVision’s DER optimization model, a utility can determine viable, cost-effective DER solutions to help mitigate energy and demand costs, increase customer participation, defer transmission and distribution investment, or improve the overall visibility and contribution of DERS to the grid and utility operations.

The DER Evaluation Process