Full Title: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Minnesota Staff Report on Grid Modernization
Author(s): Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Publisher(s): Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
In May 2015, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) initiated a proceeding to consider development of policies related to grid modernization with a focus on distribution system planning. The Commission held three workshops to gather information on distribution system planning and grid modernization, and to identify specific actions, technologies, and policies that could support and enable grid modernization. The Commission also sought two rounds of comments to support this effort. This report summarizes the actions in the proceeding to date, identifies aspects of the stakeholder comments identified as important for discussion of grid modernization, and proposes a process for continuing the development of policies related to grid modernization.
Specifically, this Report:
● Develops a definition of grid modernization for Minnesota;
● Identifies principles to guide the development of grid modernization in
Minnesota; and,
● Proposes a three phase approach to continue policy development of grid modernization in Minnesota.
When combined, these three components will allow the Commission to identify and consider necessary policy development and implementation in a manner that best suits the needs of Minnesota. This process will provide ample opportunity for stakeholders to provide input in the process. Specifically, this report highlights the need for the Commission to: address distribution system planning in order to enhance grid reliability and resiliency; ensure optimal utilization of grid assets to minimize total system costs; and enable integration of a variety of distributed energy resources.
The needs, use, and expectations of the distribution grid are evolving as customer preferences change and as energy technologies increasingly become available directly to customers. Furthermore, as policy directives move Minnesota, the electric utilities and consumers toward adoption of cleaner and more distributed resources, the Commission may want to plan for these changes, consistent with the public interest. This report outlines a process that would allow the Commission to develop policies that plan for and meet these expectations in a way that maintains and enhances system reliability while enabling customer choice and supporting continued innovation.