NY-BEST Summary

Order Adopting Distributed System Implementation Plan (DSIP) Guidance

Released April 20, 2016 by NYS PSC

Stakeholder Engagement

May 5, 2016–utilities must file a plan and associated timeline for a stakeholder engagement process during DSIP filing development

Initial DSIPs

June 30, 2016 - an individual utility Initial DSIP addressing its own system and identifying immediate changes that can be made to effectuate state energy goals and objectives; examine the best ways for each utility to move towards a modern grid

Requirements of Initial DSIP:

  1. Distribution System Planning
  2. Forecast of demand + growth
  3. Describe current forecast methodologies and include granular 8760 hour forecast data in kW or kWh
  4. Describe what data is not available and plans to expand data across the service territory
  5. Discuss role increased DER penetration will play in load forecasting models
  6. Utilities should consider/discuss including DER providers’ forecasts in utility forecasts
  7. Available DER (Distributed Energy Resources) and future plans/programs to increase quantity/value of DER…include data from demonstration projects
  8. Delivery infrastructure capital investment plans
  9. provide historical spending amounts for past 5 years and predicted spending over next 5 years (broken down into transmission, substations, and distribution)
  10. Identify what DERs can do to impact future spending; including both places where it will require increased capital expenditure and where it can reduce need for spending on (t,s, & d)
  11. Explain the driving factors behind large budgetary changes, and why they could not be avoided
  12. Beneficial locations for DER deployment
  13. Describe the advantages of particular DER deployment, both in reducing capital costs and advantages of the resource
  14. Hosting Capacity
  15. Adopt a standard definition and evaluate hosting capacity for all circuits within a service territory
  16. Distribution Grid Operations
  17. System Operations;
  18. including effects of DER penetration and accompanying policy changes that they will require
  19. Specify plans for ensuring reliability of energy supply and cyber security
  20. Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO)
  21. Describe plans to implement VVO in the near-term and how third parties can contribute VVO services
  22. Cost-Benefit analysis of upgrading VVO capabilities including discussion of new VVO capabilities and their role in the evolving grid
  23. Interconnection Process
  24. Advanced Metering
  25. Include summary of up to date AMI rollout plans; including detailed business plans
  26. Customer Data
  27. Identify ways for customers, and authorized third parties, to access customer data, either through AMI or other tools

Supplemental DSIPs

November 1, 2016 - a joint — and as necessary, individual — Supplemental DSIPs by all utilities addressing the tools, processes, and protocols that will be developed jointly or under shared standards to plan and operate a modern grid capable of dynamically managing distribution resources and supporting retail markets; shape long term planning and coordination

Supplemental DSIPs must include:

  1. Distribution System Planning
  2. Forecast of demand + growth
  3. Utilities should assess the accuracy of prior forecasts and determine if there are any biases present in their forecasting techniques
  4. Available Distributed Energy Resources
  5. Identify the specific contribution of each DER in kW or kWh to peak load, energy reduction, or load shaping over 5 years
  6. Explain how this data will be incorporated into the utilities planning process
  7. Develop a standard process for communication between utilities and DER providers to identify opportunities for DER deployment and coordination
  8. Beneficial locations for DER deployment
  9. Propose a plan and timeline for statewide system data sharing
  10. Present the methodology for unbundled zonal hourly or sub-hourly prices in accordance with the efforts concurrently being discussed in Case 15-E-0751, “Value of D Proceeding”.
  11. Hosting Capacity
  12. Include a timeline and standard methodology for calculating and improving circuit-level hosting capacity data
  13. Establish a hosting capacity map that will be available to DER providers and detailed reports on problematic circuits
  14. Evaluate role emerging technologies can play to increase hosting capacity
  15. Propose demonstration projects to provide alternate approaches to increasing hosting capacity and facilitate DER penetration
  16. Probabilistic Modeling and Load Flow Analyses
  17. Determine means to maximize benefits of DER and integrate these benefits into planning process
  18. Distribution Grid Operations
  19. System Operations;
  20. Outline cyber security program wherein utilities incorporate new and improved technologies when made available
  21. Details on distribution infrastructure upgrades to support DSP capabilities; communication between grid and microgrids etc.
  22. Interconnection Process
  23. Include a proposed comprehensive plan, developed through stakeholder engagement, to implement proposed improvements
  24. Customer Data
  25. Include plans to phase in ability to provide ESCOs with access to daily, hourly, and eventually real-time access to customer usage information

June 30, 2018 - utilities are required to file DSIPs on a biennial basis beginning on June 30, 2018

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