Distribution Planning

This track focuses on the near-term development and enhancement of the adopted DRP frameworks, analytical tools, and planning processes into a more comprehensive DPP.

Phase 1

Staff Proposal

Improvements to the distribution planning and project execution process, interconnection capacity analysis maps, and data portals

The Staff Proposal examines issues with the current distribution planning process, focusing on issues that may contribute to long energization timelines. Staff propose methodological improvements and new processes to enhance proactive planning, which will be critical for the timely energization of the new loads expected from electrification and the increase in DERs. It also aims to improve the usefulness of the data portals and ICA tools for DER planning, siting, and interconnection, and to improve the design and ease of use of these tools.

Staff Proposal Workshop: Wednesday, March 27 2024, 1pm – 4pm

The goal of the workshop is to present the High DER Staff Proposal to stakeholders and the broader public, and to give an opportunity for verbal questions and comments. This workshop will allow stakeholders and the public to better understand the Staff Proposal, and thus to submit more informed and complete official comments.

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Workshop Recording

Electrification Impact Study (EIS) Part 1

The Electrification Impact Study Part 1: Bottom-Up Load Forecasting and System-Level Electrification Impacts Cost Estimates [link to CPUC Cover Sheet Kevala EIS Part 1 (ca.gov)] was filed in a May 9th, 2023, ruling in the High DER proceeding. EIS Part 1 examines the potential impacts of high adoptions of DERs on the distribution grid. The study presents a granular bottom-up load forecasting methodology that provides information on where and when distribution grid enhancements and investment may be needed to support grid reliability and provides a preliminary estimate on the potential costs of meeting these needs by California’s three largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs). 

The Electrification Impact Study Part 1 Workshop was held on May 17th, 2023. 

• Agenda
• Presentation
• Recording

Data Portals 

Data portals hosted by PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E provide extensive geospatial mapping data to the public about the electric distribution grid. The purpose of the portals is to support DER siting. Among the data hosted are Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) data, which are designed to help contractors and developers identify project sites where existing grid infrastructure has capacity available to interconnect new DERs. A January 27, 2021 Ruling for the DRP proceeding directed the IOUs’ to refine their ICA online maps to ensure the data are accurate and increase usability.

• PG&E’s data portal is available here.
• SCE’s data portal is available here. 
• SDG&E’s data portal is available here.

Data validation were prepared for PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E pursuant to the January 27, 2021 Ruling.  A September 9, 2021, Ruling required refinements to the data portals.

Data Portals Workshop

The CPUC held a Data Portals Improvement Workshop on July 26, 2022. This workshop informed participants about the utility data portals, which include the Integrated Capacity Analysis, Grid Needs Assessment, and Locational Net Benefit Analysis. The panelists shared feedback received to date on how to improve the data portals and solicited feedback from workshop attendees.  The discussion included information about the grid planning in California.

• Agenda   
• Presentation
• Proceeding Documents  

Distribution Planning Community Engagement Needs Assessment Workshop

The CPUC held a workshop on December 13th, 2022. The workshop objectives were to: (1) present information received through a series of informal outreach meetings; (2) discuss a draft Scope of Work for a Distribution Planning Community Engagement Needs Assessment study to inform Track 1 of the proceeding with additional scope to support Track 2 outreach; and (3) provide context about existing utility distribution planning processes and community outreach. 

Agenda
Workshop Recording Part 1
Workshop Recording Part 2
Draft Scope of Work
Combined Presentations 

Load ICA Refinements Workshop

Energy Division (ED) invited stakeholders to attend the all-day Load ICA Refinements Workshop on March 8, 2023

• Workshop Agenda - available here
• Workshop Presentation
• Joint IOU Presentation

Phase 2

Distribution Planning Process Improvements

Distribution Investment Deferral Framework

The DIDF is an ongoing annual process to identify, review, and select opportunities for competitively sourced distributed energy resources to defer or avoid utility traditional distribution capital investments. DERs as alternatives to traditional grid investments are commonly referred to as non-wires alternatives. The DIDF was established in decision D.18-02-004.

The process requires annual filings by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). The annual filings are called Grid Needs Assessment and Distribution Deferral Opportunity Reports (GNA/DDORs). Within the filings, the three utilities propose a list of DER opportunities most likely to successfully defer a traditional grid investment. An advisory group of stakeholders called the Distribution Planning Advisory Group reviews the GNA/DDOR filings. After review, the utilities seek to procure DERs for the selected opportunities.

Extensive information about the DIDF process is provided in the implementing decision and the series of Administrative Law Judge rulings that refined the process. The Rulings are available at the DRP proceeding website (R.14-08-013). A summary of process updates and outcomes is provided in California’s Grid Modernization Report prepared by the CPUC.

The section addresses high-level policy issues concerning the roles and responsibilities of distribution system operators, as well as utility and aggregator business models.  This track tackles long-term policy matters and may lead to findings that require action beyond the timeframe of this OIR.

Future Grid Study

In August 2023, the CPUC released an Amended Scoping Memo in Rulemaking R.21-06-017. The amended scoping memo alters Track 2 of the rulemaking by assuming that the electric investor-owned utilities (IOUs) remain in their current role as distribution system operators. The Future Grid Study is now based on the following two scoping questions:

1. What are the operational needs necessary to efficiently operate a high DER grid, unlock economic opportunities for DERs to provide grid services, limit market power, reduce ratepayer costs, increase equity, support grid resiliency, and meet State policy objectives?

2. What are the existing gaps and barriers in achieving the needs identified above within our current Distribution System Operator (Utilities)? What are the potential solutions in overcoming these barriers?

Track 2 of the rulemaking now focuses on how to ensure DER deployment provides the maximum possible value to the grid through effective distribution system operations. To tackle this, the Future Grud Study Workshop Series was hosted by Gridworks and the CPUC to foster collaboration and innovation amongst the IOUs. The workshop series will consist of three workshops:

Workshop Series: The Future Grid Study

Workshop 1: Identifying Operational Needs
February 8th, 2024, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

The first of three workshops brought together utilities and parties to discuss and address the first question in Track 2 of the High DER Proceeding scoping memo: what are the operational needs necessary to efficiently operate a high DER grid, unlock economic opportunities for DER to provide grid services, limit market power, reduce ratepayer costs, increase equity, support grid resiliency and meet State policy objects?

• Agenda
• Presentations & Other Resources [California Future Grid Study – Gridworks]
• Workshop recording

Workshop 2: Assessing Gaps

March 12th, 2024 from 11:00am to 5:00pm

In the next part of the workshop series, the goal was to provide answers to the first half of the second question listed in the scoping memo: What are the existing gaps and barriers in achieving the needs identified [as discussed in Workshop 1] within our current Distribution System Operator (Utilities)?

• Pre-Workshop [Survey]
• Agenda
• Workshop recording

Workshop 3: Developing Recommendations to Address Gaps

May 1st, 2024 from 11:00am to 5:00pm

The last workshop of this series worked with parties involved to find potential solutions to overcome the barriers found during the gap assessment in workshop 2, this final session focused on concreting recommendations for the Commission to address identified gaps.

• Agenda
• Workshop Recording

A more thorough description of the workshop series, along with background material, is available on the Gridworks Website Future Grid Study Overview

Education and Outreach Workshop

The workshop aimed to educate stakeholders on distribution planning and Distribution System Operator (DSO) topics to facilitate meaningful engagement in the High DER proceeding.  Additionally, it presented new and existing community engagement plans for proceeding tracks 1 and 2, along with CPUC's coordination with CEC outreach efforts.

This workshop was held August 23, 2022 at 9:00 am

• Agenda
• Workshop Recording

This section focuses on grid modernization investments in the near and medium term, the implementation of smart inverters to utilize advanced functionalities for grid services, and the better alignment of GRC filings with the planned infrastructure investments identified during utility distribution planning.

SIOWG

The SIOWG prioritized operational flexibility, enabling distribution system operators to optimize capacity and connect distributed energy resources rapidly while maintaining grid safety and reliability. They developed seven business cases, with the top priorities being Distributed Energy Resources Interconnection Agreement/Limited Load Profiles, Abnormal Conditions, and Distribution Services during Normal Conditions. Four critical use cases were identified to support these priorities: Scheduling and Commanding Firm Export Limits and Non-Firm Export Capacity, Generation Export Minimum Requirement, and Operational Flexibility in Import Limits and Non-Firm Import Capacity. Use cases were rated based on technical readiness and importance for grid safety and reliability.

Link to report: Attachment in Docket

SIO-CS

This subgroup aimed to identify existing cybersecurity standards for smart inverter operationalization and expanded this to include implementation paths per the third SIOWG scoping question. They agreed to use IEEE Std 1547.3-2023, Section 5 as a basis, noting it offers recommended items ("Should" rather than "Shall"). The subgroup warned against simply replacing "Should" with "Shall," to avoid overly stringent requirements. They provided two sets of recommendations: (1) Phase 1 Primary Distributed Energy Resource Cybersecurity Requirements, categorized into six areas (Risk Assessment and Management, Network Cybersecurity, Access Control, Data Security, Security Management, and Coping and Recovery), and (2) three parallel implementation paths. Details are summarized in Section 4, with a complete list in Annex A of the subgroup report

Distribution Resources Plans Proceeding

The former DRP proceeding website is available here.  It provides background information about the regulatory and legislative precursors to the DRP, including Public Utilities Code Section 769 and Assembly Bill 327.