2. Distribution Questions and Issues Confronting Regulators
on Possible Regulatory Concerns between Customers, Utilities, and other Energy Stakeholders
The following sections provide distribution-related questions and issues that are confronting regulators on possible regulatory concerns between customers, utilities, and other energy stakeholders related to distribution systems and DER systems.
2.1 Why Are Distribution Systems Becoming an Issue for Regulators?
2.1.1 Are Utility Interests and Regulator Interests Different for Distribution System Management?
2.1.2 Why Should Decisions be Based on a “Policy of Least Regrets”?
2.1.3 Who Are the New Stakeholders in Distribution and DER Management?
2.2 What Are the Regulatory Issues from Financial and Market Pressures?
2.2.1 Why is Customer Fairness Becoming an Even Larger Issue?
2.2.2 What are the Key Differences between the Bulk Power Market and the Possible Retail Power Markets?
2.3 What Are the Issues on DER Technologies Affecting Regulations?
2.3.1 Why Are Utilities Concerned About DER?
2.3.2 How May Utility Mandates to “Serve” Be Affected by the Reliability of DER Systems?
2.3.3 What Are “Smart” DER Capabilities, and What Are Their Benefits?
2.3.4 What Can Regulators Do to Incentivize Win-Win DER Implementations?
2.3.5 What Are DER Regulations in Different Jurisdictions?
2.4 What Are Some Recent Major Issues Being Discussed by Regulator?
2.4.1 What Can Be Learned from California’s Smart Inverter Working Group Process?
2.4.2 What Financial and Technical Questions Are Raised by Distribution Resource Plans?
2.4.3 What Tariff-Related Questions Are Raised by Different States?
2.5 What Could or Should Other Jurisdictions Do?
2.5.1 “My jurisdiction is much simpler than California’s. Why should I pay any attention?”