Distributed Utility Planning

Distributed utility planning ("DUP") involves modular electrical generation and storage technologies, and specifically targeted demand-side management ("DSM") programs, strategically sited and operated to supplement central station generation plants and the transmission and distribution ("T&D") grid for the purpose of cost-effectively obtaining both location-specific and system-wide customer benefits. Applicable generation technologies include small-scale internal combustion engine-generator sets, small gas turbine generators and microturbines, energy storage systems, and a number of "clean" generation technologies including photovoltaics, wind turbines, and fuel cells.

The benefits obtained from DUP can include reducing the loading of T&D systems, thereby avoiding or deferring major equipment upgrades; improving local power quality; reducing T&D system losses; and, given the shorter lead times and the modularity of the technologies involved, reducing the risk and cost of generation and T&D over-capacity by more closely matching electrical supply to demand.

Distributed utility planning provides the potential for significant benefits for utilities and their customers while lowering financial, environmental, and institutional risks. The modularity of the generation technologies and DSM strategies provides utilities with flexibility in the emerging competitive markets to meet uncertain load growth. The power quality and grid support functions of distributed resources can provide new business opportunities to distribution companies otherwise constrained by regional boundaries or low load growth. DUP also offers an early market-entry path for cost-effective applications of newly emerging clean generation technologies.

Public Service Board Docket 6290, an Investigation into Guidelines for Distributed Utility Planning, produced a series of web resources on DUP.
Here you can access documents produced in the docket as well as find information about DUP and distributed generation.

Introduction to DUP

Collaborative Documents (Phase I)

Distributed Generation links