The New York State Public Service Commission has instituted a proceeding to transition New York to a more connected, affordable, resilient, and clean electric grid.
During the proceeding, Public Service Commission staff will engage with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive New York Grid of the Future plan. The plan will establish targets for the deployment of flexible resources such as virtual power plants and identify the utility investments required to enable the grid of the future.
“New York will continue its tradition of innovation and leadership by building a clean, resilient power grid,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Grid of the Future proceeding will help us establish deployment goals and strategies to help meet the State’s nation-leading clean energy goals in a way that protects the wallets of all New Yorkers.”
The proceeding will start with the development of a grid flexibility study, where Public Service Commission (PSC) staff will estimate the current and future potential capabilities of flexible resources across New York’s electric grid. The study will also identify near-term actions predicted to increase the deployment and use of flexible resources and the improved integration of flexible resources into grid planning and grid operations.
PSC staff will finalize the inaugural New York Grid of the Future Plan, which is anticipated to be filed by December 31, 2024, after completing the study.
The plan will not only leverage the grid flexibility study to identify clear and actionable resource deployment goals but also establish key policies including improved utility planning processes, new forms of compensation for customers providing flexibility services, advancements in smart grid technologies, physical and cyber security protocols and opportunities for customer savings and benefits.
“As customers continue to choose electric appliances, cars and heating sources which are increasingly connected through devices, such as smart thermostats or smart EV chargers, we have a once in a generation opportunity to harness the inherent value of the flexible grid services those resources can provide, offering customers the opportunity for significant utility bill savings, while enabling a cleaner, more flexible and resilient grid of the future here in New York,” said Public Service Commission Chair, Rory M. Christian.
The PSC staff will file an updated plan on or before December 31, 2025 after a stakeholder engagement process to examine the initial plan and the grid flexibility study. The plan is expected to be updated for customer-benefiting levels of flexible services responding to the grid requirements and capabilities.
