The role of renewable distributed generation in California's electricity system

Rolling blackouts, escalating electricity prices, ratepayers on the verge of open revolt, and electric utilities publicly threatening bankruptcy have brought California's electricity system under intense scrutiny. It is clear that California's electricity system is in imbalance. Causes of the imbalance include slower than expected increases in generating capacity, unexpectedly high demand growth rates and insufficient electricity delivery capability. This paper describes how one of the approaches being examined to help resolve the electricity system situation is to increase generating capacity using distributed generation technologies.