Regulatory Sandboxes and Utility Adoption of Advanced Grid Technologies

Advanced grid technologies can help meet many challenges emerging on the grid, but traditional frameworks for evaluating utility investments may be limiting their adoption. Regulatory sandboxes are being considered a potential solution in some states by establishing a structured environment for piloting innovative approaches under modified rules to test and quickly scale new technologies. A recent Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report examines a dozen jurisdictions across the United States that have successfully used sandbox-type mechanisms to test advanced grid technologies—such as targeted deployment of energy storage, smart distribution circuits, and dynamic line rating—to reduce peak demand and increase grid flexibility. Jurisdictions also have used sandboxes to trial new customer programs, workforce development approaches, and resilience and cybersecurity strategies. Learn about these experiences from the LBNL report authors and two Commissions.