The GridWise Alliance, in collaboration with Clean Edge, Inc., has released the 3rd Annual Grid Modernization Index (GMI). The Index ranks and assesses all 50 states and the District of Columbia, based on the degree to which they have moved toward a modernized electric grid.
For the third time in a row, California is the highest-ranked state, with a score of 88, more than six points higher than its score in the previous Index. The state ranks first in the Customer Engagement category (as it did in the previous GMI), and second in both State Support and Grid Operations. California has a nearly seven-point lead over second-place Illinois, while Texas (which was neck and neck with California for the top score in the previous GMI) ranks third. Maryland and Delaware (leaders on the East Coast) each move up a spot to fourth and fifth respectively. Rounding out the top ten are Washington, DC, Oregon, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.
"Electricity lies at the heart of our economy, and it must evolve to serve the needs of an increasingly low-carbon, always-on, digital economy," said Steve Hauser, CEO of the GridWise Alliance. "We are pleased to see continued progress across the country this year, but the survey shows that we are just getting started."
Based on survey data collected in June-October 2015, the Index benchmarks states on a wide range of grid modernization policies, investments, and activities, and provides insights into some of the relationships and connections between state policies and regulations, customer engagement, and utility investments in modernizing the grid. This year's Index shows once again that most of the activity is focused in a few states, although nearly all states have begun to address these issues.
"These changes are difficult for policymakers," said Scott Prochazka, CEO of Centerpoint Energy and Chairman of the GridWise Alliance. "It's critical to ensure that the public good is served while enabling individual rights and choices. The findings from this GMI study do an excellent job of guiding the industry on critical investments that must be made."
A number of major grid-related developments highlighted in this year's summary report include:
- CALIFORNIA now requires its major investor-owned utilities to submit distributed resource plans (DRPs) that detail how they will value distributed energy resources (DERs) as distribution grid assets.
- NEW YORK's landmark Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative recognizes the need for advanced metering functionality (such as smart meters), which is serving as a foundational investment to enable New York to achieve its ultimate goal: reforming the retail market to leverage DERs to optimize the electric system.
- HAWAII increased its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to 100 percent by 2045. The steps it takes to address grid modernization will be carefully tracked by others looking to institute similar targets.
- MASSACHUSETTS required its utilities to submit grid modernization plans by September 2015. Utilities' proposals include additional smart meters, experiments with time-of-use and critical peak pricing tariffs, and DER management systems.
Key takeaways from the report include 1) the fact that continuing to fund grid modernization investments is a challenge for many states; 2) that some key factors associated with high GMI scores are advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) penetration, electric market deregulation, and the presence of demand response programs; and 3) that the source of leadership for grid modernization efforts (executive branch, legislators, regulators, etc.) varies widely from state to state.
The report is available for download at the GridWise Alliance website.
