Utilities are also directed to apply cost-saving technology that helps manage peak demand.

July 25, 2024
Stephen Singer
Press Herald
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EXCERPTS

Maine regulators on Thursday announced their priorities for utilities in a decade-long grid planning process, calling for greater investment in resilience against storms and leaning into technology to help rein in rising costs.
The Public Utilities Commission detailed what’s to be included in grid planning, a lengthy process that drew comments from dozens of participants, including the Governor’s Energy Office, environmentalists, Central Maine Power, Versant Power, the state Public Advocate and others. Utilities face increasing electrification of building heating and cooling and electric vehicles to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
“This is a pivotal time for Maine’s electric distribution grid, which requires substantial investment to continue to serve customers safely and reliably, particularly in light of Maine’s beneficial electrification goals,” said PUC Chairman Philip Bartlett II.................

................The PUC directed utilities to invest in improving the reliability and resilience of the grid, but also apply cost-saving technology that helps manage peak demand and electricity congestion on the grid without building or upgrading a grid system. These could include rooftop solar installations, batteries that store and release energy and energy efficiency.

The PUC also said utilities must broaden the use of smart meters, improve mapping of the distribution system and develop a governance policy or protocols to maintain data.

And regulators directed the utilities to improve their forecasting of how much electricity will be needed to support increased electric vehicle use and climate change, support the use of rooftop solar, wind turbines, waste-to-energy plants and other energy sources.........................

...................In comments to the PUC, Versant said it anticipates that greater electrification of buildings and vehicles and increased solar power “will add new stresses” to the transmission and distribution system, leading to overloads and voltage that exceeds its upper limit or a safe range. It will likely require more system upgrades, it said.

CMP told regulators that one of the challenges in the transition to clean energy will be how to incorporate the rising cost of upgrades required to keep up with increased electrification without sacrificing “essential utility investments for reliability and resiliency.”

The full article is at https://www.pressherald.com/2024/07/25/maine-regulators-direct-utilities-to-make-power-grid-more-resilient-against-storms/

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