Flexibility Is Key in New York: New Tools and Operational Solutions for Managing Distributed Energy Resources

New York State is pioneering a new approach to regulating its electric utility companies that is expected to usher in the distributed energy system of tomorrow. Among the goals of the New York REV (Reforming the Energy Vision) proceeding launched in 2015 are a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels and a mandate for 50% of the state's electricity to be generated from renewable resources by 2030. In 2014, 25% of New York's electric generation was produced by renewables, of which 80% was from hydropower. In addition to these and other objectives, the New York Public Service Commission has identified the need to establish a distributed system platform provider (DSPP), which will facilitate new markets to accelerate adoption and realize the value of distributed energy resources (DERs). To do this, the incumbent utilities will perform the role of the DSPP and create and operate the distributed system platform (DSP). Building the DSP is a big task, and each of the New York utilities is in the process of deploying it according to their distribution system implementation plans (DSIPs).