Browsing by Subject "Utility"

Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    ANALYSIS OF THE MICROGRID MARKET FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED MUNICIPALITIES AND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
    (2021-04-30) Hancock, Thomas; Hu, Yuxin; Yang, Yueyi
    A growing number of electricity users ranging from large production facilities to homeowners are installing microgrids to increase the resilience and reliability of their power supply. While this growth has largely been driven by private entities, microgrids also offer municipal utilities, rural cooperatives, and local governments a means to provide improved services to their constituents, provided the costs can be appropriately controlled. In this project, we investigate the market potential for microgrid adoption by small and medium-sized municipalities and electric cooperatives. Insights around this market segment are drawn from semi-structured interviews with representatives from not only municipalities and electric cooperatives, but also major utilities, local government regulatory agencies, and microgrid experts. The findings from these discussions indicate that municipal utilities have potential to be a healthy market for microgrids as they avoid conflicts with monopoly distribution companies and their government affiliation provides an opportunity to improve community resilience. To accelerate microgrid deployment in this sector, a framework is developed for assessing the viability of microgrid adoption for municipalities and cooperatives. This framework is also used to identify a list of representative utilities that demonstrate the key characteristics of this market segment.
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    Collaborative Water Risk Management: Guidelines for the Power Industry, Water Utility, and Regulator
    (2011-04-28) Shpitsberg, Anna
    Safe and adequate access to energy and water, the two natural resources driving the production of all other critical human needs, is key to economic development, public health, and military security. The availability of these two resources is threatened by the increase in demand and competing interests for their supply. Water resources are critical to energy production while energy resources are necessary for safe deployment and allocation of water. The constraints imposed by such reliance are evident in the thermoelectric and water supply industries, which must procure water to ensure operation while complying with water quantity and quality regulations. Thermoelectric plants are responsible for almost 90% of the generation capacity and 41% of the freshwater withdrawals in the United States (Kenny, et al. 2009). Water suppliers are responsible for 13% of freshwater withdrawals while 75% of a municipalities cost to process and distribute water is spent on electricity (Sandia National Laboratory 2006). This study discusses the current framework and pricing structure under which a power and water utility operate and focuses on the relationship between these utilities, in order to identify collaborative strategies that ease dependence on both resources. The research identifies the main roadblocks to effective management including impeded flow of information, inaccurate pricing models, and increasing stress to water resources. To address the aforementioned roadblocks, five recommendations are presented with case studies serving as reference points. This guideline proposes the implementation of accurate price signals, demand response measures, collaborative efficiency programs, alternative water sources, and alternative energy sources to ease water constraints. Recommendations are the result of extensive literature and data review, as well as interviews conducted with utilities, agencies, laboratories, research centers, and technology providers.
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    Economic Analysis of Duke Energy’s Proposed Save-A-Watt
    (2008-04-25T20:59:14Z) Milligan, John
    As North Carolina regulators begins to recognize the untapped economic, social, and environmental benefits of meeting increased electricity demand through energy efficiency, it has become clear that traditional electricity rate-making creates a disincentive to invest in energy efficiency. To encourage the use of energy efficiency, the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) is investigating Duke Energyâs proposed energy efficiency financing mechanism called Save-a-Watt (SaW). Through SaW, Duke Energy can subsidize energy efficiency measures for individual ratepayers. These energy efficiency measures reduce the amount of electricity sold to the individual ratepayers. To recover subsidy costs and opportunity costs from reduced electricity sales, Duke Energy spreads 90% of the cost that it would have taken for the utility to generate the saved electricity to all ratepayers. This paper provides an analysis of the quantitative effect of Duke Energyâs proposed Save-a-Watt (SaW) mechanism. Although Duke Energy has proposed SaW in many states, this analysis will focus on Duke Energyâs North Carolina service territory. To evaluate SaW, a cost benefit analysis of SaW was generated from a financial model of Duke Energyâs operations. The financial model of Duke Energy was built from information gathered from reports, financial and accounting statements, and North Carolina Public Utilities documents. For the cost benefit analysis, two cases were simulated over a 25 year period: the base case includes the construction of two 800 Megawatt coal power plants and the SaW case includes one 800 Megawatt coal power plant and the rest of electricity demand is met with energy efficiency investments. The outcomes from the cost benefit analysis indicate that ratepayers, utilities, and society would realize a positive net present value by implementing the SaW case rather than the base case. In addition, minimal impacts to electricity rates were observed. Due to the confidential nature of information related to the cost of electricity production, some assumptions were made in order to complete the analysis. Future research by individuals with access to Duke Energyâs confidential information should be done to verify the findings in this report.
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    Increasing Water Affordability through a Statewide Customer Assistance Program in California
    (2023-04-28) Lee, Jennifer
    California has adopted a statewide policy where “every human being has the right to clean, safe, affordable, and accessible water.” Yet having the right to clean and affordable water is not the same as having clean and affordable water. Customer assistance programs (CAP) can offer financial relief and bridge the gap to making water more affordable for everyone. Many water utilities offer rebates, subsidies, high bill adjustments, and other financial programs to help offset the cost of water utility bills. While these programs vary by water supplier, California legislators have introduced a statewide water rate assistance program. However, this bill was ultimately vetoed by the governor due to a lack of sustainable funding source. Regardless, water affordability remains an important issue and this project analyzes different options for a statewide CAP, quantifies how much it would cost, and evaluate if it is affordable for low-income households.
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    Siting of Utility-Scale Solar in North Carolina
    (2018-04-27) Kikuma, Isshu; Rublev, Elizabeth; Tan, Xuebei
    In 2007, North Carolina (NC) passed a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS), the first in the Southeast. The REPS mandated that 12.5% of the state’s electricity demand be met with renewable energy by 2021. 29 states, Washington D.C., and 3 territories also have renewable portfolio standards, with varying goals. The NC REPS, combined with the state’s interpretation of the 1978 Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), unleashed a torrent of activity in the state, making it second in the nation (after California) for installed solar PV. Our project, using publicly available data and a geographical information system (GIS), creates a screening tool to: (1) identify potential sites for utility-scale solar in the State of North Carolina, given a set of physical constraints; and (2) generate supply curves for those selected sites, given a set of economic constraints. This tool can be used by local zoning boards or commissions, or other interested parties, to gain a better understanding of utility-scale solar projects and make project development processes smoother, facilitating better environmental outcomes, and supporting sustainable economic growth in North Carolina and the U.S.
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    State Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Mechanisms
    (2023-04-27) Hill, Sophia; Zeng, Angela
    Improving energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to lower energy prices, reduce emissions, and improve grid reliability. However, improving energy efficiency through energy efficiency programs often require utilities to make significant upfront investments. Cost recovery mechanisms are thus an essential component of energy efficiency policies, providing the financial incentives necessary for utilities to make such investments. These relatively unknown policies determine how utilities recover energy efficiency investments through customer rates. To better understand their impact, we built a financial model and comparison dashboard that allows users to compare how the cost recovery mechanisms of three states – North Carolina, Vermont, and Illinois – differently compensate utilities and charge customers for energy efficiency investments. We aim to shed light on the influence and impact of this policy on utilities, customers, and our environment.
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    The State of Water and Wastewater Utility Debt in North Carolina
    (2018-04-27) Atkins, Madeline
    Over the next 20 years, North Carolina water and wastewater systems will require up to $26 billion in capital costs to improve degrading infrastructure. Debt financing is a popular option to raise capital to fund these projects, as revenues from water sales alone are not usually sufficient to finance large projects. This study seeks to understand the current state of water and wastewater debt in North Carolina and quantify future financial capacity for issuing debt. Data on all local government debt issuances from 1951 to 2017 was obtained from the North Carolina Department of State Treasurer Local Government Commission. Analyses find that as of the end of fiscal year 2017, local government utilities in North Carolina have a total of $8.3 billion in outstanding water and wastewater debt. Additional analyses of debt per capita and debt service payments are performed to provide insight into the future capacity of utilities to issue debt.