The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued its Draft Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan 2.0, which is intended to assist in deploying its DER policy.
The PUC, which regulates California’s privately owned utilities, also hosted a public workshop to discuss the draft and solicit comments.
Distributed energy resources as defined by the PUC include rooftop solar and other distributed renewable generation resources, energy storage, electric vehicles, time variant and dynamic rates, flexible load management, demand response, and energy efficiency technologies.
“California leads the nation in the growth of distributed energy resources, which will continue due to groundbreaking policies such as Senate Bill 100, as well as new commitments to increase transportation and building electrification and continued commitment to behind the meter solar generation and storage. Given these trends and the ongoing need for a coordinated strategic vision to guide distributed energy resources policy, the CPUC is updating its 2016 Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan. The Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan 2.0 will serve as a roadmap for CPUC decision-makers, staff, and stakeholders to facilitate forward-thinking policy and maximize ratepayer and societal value in an anticipated high-DER future,” according to a press release posted to the PUC’s official website.
The DER Action Plan 2.0 is intended to coordinate development and implementation of policy related to DERs, not to determine outcomes of individual proceedings, according to the PUC.
“Because many of these policies are strongly linked to initiatives at the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, and the California Independent System Operator, the CPUC remains committed to close coordination with these agencies in the development and implementation of this plan,” according to a draft of the plan posted to the PUC’s website.
