In this Appendix, the study framework and evaluation for economic and technical factors are explained. This material documents the analysis performed for Section 4.8 of the EIS. Coupled with the environmental analysis, the evaluation factors described below will be used to judge the relative...

It is estimated that electric utilities use about 40 million distribution transformers in supplying electricity to customers in the United States. Although utility distribution transformers collectively have a high average efficiency, they account for approximately 61 billion kWh of the 229...

This workshop was sponsored by the Distributed Utility Valuation (DUV) Project-a joint effort of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Department of Energy (DOE), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) Department of Energy (DOE), and Pacific Gas &...

Historically, regulators imposed resource-planning rules on electric utilities because of the utility`s obligation to serve. Given that obligation, regulators wanted utilities to plan for and procure a portfolio of resources that provided customers with low-cost electricity, stable prices, and a...

In the energy arena, the greatest data needs concern the costs and performance of demand-side management (DSM) programs, which are likely to grow in size and importance. It is difficult to assess the contributions that utility DSM programs could make to resolving national energy problems because...

This report reviews 17 studies assessing the effect of information feedback on residential electricity consumption. Most of the studies were conducted in experimental or quasi-experimental conditions. The studies reviewed used (1) both feedback and incentives, (2) goal setting, (3) cost...

Discussions and decisions in states as diverse as California, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island are focusing on moving the United States electric industry from one dominated by vertically-integrated and highly regulated utility-based electricity monopolies to one characterized by largely divested and...

There are numerous conditions of the generation system that may ultimately develop into system states affecting system reliability and security. Such generation system conditions should also be considered when evaluating the potential impacts on system operations. The following five issues have...

Electric utility distribution system impacts associated with the integration of distributed photovoltaic (PV) energy sources vary from site to site and utility to utility. The objective of this paper is to examine several utility- and site-specific conditions which may affect economic viability...

The electricity industry in the US today is at a crossroads. The restructuring debate going on in most regions has made it clear that the traditional model of vertically integrated firms serving defined franchise areas and regulated by state commissions may not be the pattern for the future. The...