The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will soon vote to update a tool that could make integrating grid-level distributed energy resources, such as solar, easier for the state’s utilities. To achieve more transparency on the electricity grid, an Integration Capacity Analysis (ICA) was devised. It was released in 2019 but has reportedly received updates after the integration.
ICA can show how much space is available at a certain point on the electricity grid for additional capacity or new energy loads. Substation data is shared on how much capacity a system already has, is waiting to be connected and can be connected. It can also help plan when to use certain energy capacity, such as solar or energy storage, based on cost.
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) believes that California’s ICA is not set up properly, and that its frequent updates have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. IREC claims that participating utilities have not provided updated network data often enough for ICA to be effective.
“While these issues prevent the tool from being used as intended, the commission has repeatedly declined in recent years to require state-owned investor-owned enterprises to resolve the issues and comply with the commission’s own regulations. The CPUC’s new resolution continues the trend by not resolving the known issues,” IREC wrote in a press release.
But if it worked properly, the group said, it could save taxpayers millions in energy costs.
When power grid imbalances occur, the CPUC requires utilities to submit related reports within 18 to 30 months of the incident. This means that changes to the grid that address the problem can (but not always) occur at least more than a year after submission.
Currently, utilities are required to submit updated grid capacity to CPUC for the ICA on a monthly basis, but there are no written consequences for missing these deadlines.
CPUC submitted a decision for ICA Improvements on February 11, outlining requirements for the investor-owned utilities participating in the program. It would require these utilities to report ICA data more frequently and actually follow ICA mandates.
The resolution specifically requests that SCE “reactivate circuits currently inactive on their ICA cards,” and that PG&E restore “erroneous” system settings and queued generation data, and restrict redaction of said submissions.
“California already has the highest electricity prices in the continental U.S. At a time when rapidly rising electricity prices are a critical concern for Californians, a resolution that does not require repairs or penalize utilities for lack of compliance sends the message that the commission is not committed to holding its regulated utilities accountable for the responsible use of taxpayer dollars – which directly contribute to electricity prices,” IREC wrote.
CPUC is accepting public input on proposed ICA changes through Tuesday and is expected to vote on the resolution on March 19.
