Working Groups

Utility Tariffs  | Business Model Development | Education | Local Integrated Resource Planning

WIDRC's proposed objectives include establishment of the following working groups. The task areas and committees below represent the order in which they were prioritized by the WIDRC membership.

Utility Tariffs

Review utility tariffs, subsidies and cross-subsidization, and other utility rates and pricing issues to determine how DR can be enabled and not inhibited by inappropriate standby charges or other barriers. Develop uniform state-wide “buy-back rates” for utilities to purchase output from small, customer-owned DG (to avoid problems with negotiating PPAs with utilities for such projects). Propose enhancements to utility "Net Metering" tariffs on a state-wide to promote changes in net metering approaches.

Background Links on Tariffs:

• Latest Wisconsin Utility Tariffs are at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin - follow each utility's links
• Paul Gipe Rates Presentation "Advanced Renewable Tariffs, the Most Effective Method for Rapidly Developing Renewable Energy" ( ~ 2.4 MB pdf) at WIDRC Meeting August 1, 2006, an overview of how buy-back rates are developing in other states and countries. See more at: http://www.wind-works.org/index.html
• Paul Gipe's August 1, 2006 luncheon presentation "Distributed Generation and Advanced Renewable Tariffs" (~ 3.7 MB pdf) is also available.

 

Business Model Development

Address the need to find the right business model(s) under which DG benefits are capturing full benefits – be they energy production or energy savings.

Education

Work with academic/education organizations for specific DG curriculum development, especially train the trades. Explore partnerships with academic organizations. See Education & Workshops Co-Sponsored by WIDRC.

Local Integrated Resource Planning

Develop a model (local integrated resource planning) that analyzes the effects of DR on utility system performance against central station power plant and T&D upgrades and new lines, in order to develop distributed grids to benefit security and reliability by locating generation closer to load/need. As a key policy-level issue, DG represents a shift away from the central generation station planning model and embodies the advantages of dispersed power production and “energy surety”. How can state energy planning fully recognize the value of DG given Wisconsin’s utility planning processes ?