NARUC releases guide for utilities on grid sharing
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) released documents that will assist utility commissioners in answering crucial questions related to grid data sharing.
Public utility commissions are increasingly being asked to settle questions related to third-party access to power system information or “grid data” that utilities use to plan and operate the electricity system. NARUC’s new Grid Data Sharing Framework and accompanying Grid Data Sharing Playbook was produced to advise commissioners and other interested stakeholders in the use of the framework. The framework also provides a structure for engagement and outlining trade-offs. Additionally, NARUC released an updated version of a Summary of State Practices that shows which states and utilities currently share grid data.
“The framework was developed through joint efforts among members of the Grid Data Sharing Collaborative, including state utility regulators, utility leaders, distributed energy resource developers and cybersecurity subject-matter efforts,” NARUC Chairman Emile Thompson of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia, said. “The result is a collaboratively developed framework for gathering relevant information and considering grid data sharing options and tradeoffs, along with companion resources to help use the framework in practice.”
The framework is composed of seven topics with a series of questions that can support collecting, examining and documenting inputs to inform grid data sharing decisions. The seven categories of the framework are:
• Use Case
• State Priorities
• Current Practices, Requests, Options
• Desired Outcomes
• Data Details
• Potential Impacts
• Data Sharing Tactics
“The playbook and use cases provide detailed explanation of the framework and offer examples and insights to help state utility regulators and stakeholders with its use,” NARUC CPI Senior Director Danielle Sass Byrnett said. “The playbook will assist decision makers and stakeholders in articulating the benefits, challenges and tradeoffs most appropriate for their jurisdictions.”
In addition, three use cases are provided to offer examples of the types of information that could be used to answer the prompt questions in the framework. The use cases are improving DER interconnection, enabling fleet vehicle electrification, and enabling distribution non-wires solutions.
NARUC will host an in-person simulation workshop on Nov. 14, 2023, from 2:15 to 4:45 p.m. PT during the NARUC 2023 Annual Meeting and Education Conference to go over the Grid Data Sharing Framework and Playbook. NARUC will also host a virtual walkthrough webinar on Dec. 6 from 2:00.
The Grid Data Sharing Framework and the Grid Data Sharing Playbook were produced with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity and the DOE Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response via the Grid Data Sharing Collaborative.
