Staff at the California Public Utilities Commission released a proposal last week that calls for a new microgrid pilot program, a special tariff for microgrids, and other measures to overcome barriers to microgrid development.
The proposal comes in the second phase of a commission proceeding to help commercialize microgrids. The first phase culminated in June when the commission ordered a number of short-term modifications required of utilities, including steps to expedite applications and approvals.
For the second phase, staff took on more complex issues affecting microgrids, and proposed five changes for the commission to consider:
1) Direct utilities to allow construction of microgrids at special facilities
2) Allow microgrids to serve critical customers at adjacent parcels
3) Require utilities to create a microgrid tariff
4) Direct utilities to develop a community microgrid pilot program
5) Direct utilities to study low cost reliable electrical isolation technologies
$15 million for each microgrid
The pilot program would focus on 15 community microgrids built within the service territories of Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison.
Ratepayers from the three utilities would fund the microgrids, which would be designed to serve vulnerable populations, particularly low-income areas likely to face power outages. The proposal caps funding for each community microgrid at $15 million.
Critics of ratepayer funded microgrids say they create disparity because all utility customers pay, but only a limited number benefit. The proposal attempts to avoid this problem by charging only those ratepayers within the county where the community microgrid will be built.
Staff rejected the idea of seeking competitive bids for the pilot projects and instead put the utilities in charge, arguing that the utilities can “rapidly implement the program whereas a competitive solicitation for a third-party administrator will increase the program lead time.”
Each microgrid would be able to island critical functions for at least 96 hours, and would need to be built by Jan. 31, 2022.
Microgrid development without the hassle
Staff also took on other controversial issues, among them legal restrictions that stop microgrid owners from serving buildings on adjacent property. They proposed that municipalities be exempt from the prohibition, but limited the exemption to 10 microgrids across the three utility service territories. Staff reasoned that the 10 microgrids will create opportunity for the state to study the exemption and make modifications if necessary.
In calling for a microgrid tariff, the proposal noted that microgrids in California face barriers caused by rate complexity. “For example, there are net energy metering options for systems that involve solar generation alone, solar and storage together, fuel cells alone, or in combination with those technologies,” the proposal said.
Staff also said that some microgrids also face financial barriers, such as high upfront capital investment and payment to utilities for departing load and standby charges.
The proposal called for utilities to develop a single rate schedule for microgrids and outlined various options for doing so.
Mark the date: August 14
To be move forward, the staff proposal requires approval from the commission, which seeks stakeholder input by August 14. The full proposal is available on the commission website: Rulemaking 19-09-009.
Track news about microgrids in California. Subscribe to the free Microgrid Knowledge newsletter.
