Concentric collaborated with Subject Matter Experts in distribution system planning, grid operations, capital investment, and regulatory affairs from a national energy services and delivery company to develop resilience plans for its New York and Maine service areas. These plans were informed by data analytics and consisted of proposals to reconfigure several circuits, adding sensors and automatic distribution capabilities, coordinated with tree-trimming initiatives. We prepared a comprehensive report and accompanying testimony for rate case panels in both jurisdictions, with Concentric’s lead consultant participating in each panel.
A key objective of these plans was to convey the need for enhanced resilience based on historical storm experiences, the work performed by the company’s distribution system planners to develop and prioritize proposed projects, and the anticipated value of focusing on resilience as a distinct goal of regulation. This discussion starts with an understanding of the difference between “reliability” and “resilience.”
Reliability refers to an electric distribution utility’s ability to deliver the desired quantity of quality power to all customers when needed. In contrast, resilience refers to a utility’s ability to withstand storms and restore power quickly after a major outage.
While the industry has widely accepted metrics for reliability, it is still in the process of establishing metrics for resilience. This creates challenges for utilities and regulators when evaluating incremental investments to enhance resilience.
