September 2017

Collaborative Conversations Series: 
Microgrid Regulation... Or Not?

September 14, 2017
8:30 am -11:30 am

Last chance to register! On the morning of Thursday, September 14, the George Washington University Law School’s Sustainable Energy Initiative will convene a problem-solving discussion around the issue of microgrid regulation. Join us on our Foggy Bottom campus in Washington, D.C. to both learn about and contribute to the conversation around this emerging issue. Our discussion leaders will include:  

  • Jan Ahlen, Senior Regulatory Affairs Manager, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • Larisa Dobriansky, Chief Business & Policy Innovation Officer, General Microgrids Inc.
  • Shalom Flank, Microgrid Architect, Urban Ingenuity
  • Joseph Paladino, Technical Advisor, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department of Energy 
  • Naza N. Shelley, Attorney Advisor, Office of the General Counsel, Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia
  • Dan Ton, Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy  

All participants are welcome, however, to add content and perspective in this round-table discussion. 

A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources with clearly defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. Microgrid proponents identify reduced emissions, improved energy efficiency, and increased reliability and resiliency as among the benefits that wider deployment of microgrids can bring to the grid. 

The relationships between the microgrid and its customers, its interconnected utility, that utility’s other customers, and the wholesale market are all areas in which there are differing views on the appropriate balance between the free operation of market forces and regulation. 

The morning’s discussions will grapple with the question of whether and what regulations are needed, as microgrids seek to enter the market in larger numbers. Regulations, many of which were developed without consideration of microgrids, can create barriers, such as by unnecessarily barring participation in a particular market, or causing an undue burden. But regulation may be needed in some circumstances, for example to protect consumers that have unequal bargaining power or to address costs that are imposed on non-participants. And regulations can provide certainty as to the rights and obligations of various parties, and thereby facilitate investment and participation.
 
Registration : There is no charge for registering but pre-registration is required and registration is limited. Reserve your space now by clicking here . Because registration is limited, please notify dattanasio@law.gwu.edu at least 48 hours in advance if you withdraw, so that your seat may be reassigned.
Agenda
8:30 am

9 - 9:15 am


9:15 - 9:30 am



9:30 - 10:10 am











10:10 - 11 am


















11 - 11:25 am










11:25 - 11:30 am
Doors open; continental breakfast available.

Welcome, ground rules, brief introductions (of everyone in the room)

Legal barriers and regulatory hurdles : Brief examples of real life experiences, to provide context for the issues that need to be addressed.

The microgrid and its connected customers : Consumers and providers of electric power will have a relationship to the microgrid owner that will necessarily be defined by contract or tariff. To what degree should their relationship be defined by regulators versus the market? Factors may include, for example, the sophistication of the customers and whether there are other relationships between or among the parties (e.g., a homeowners’ association, a corporate affiliation, a voluntarily formed cooperative). If regulations are required, to what purpose? Examples of appropriate regulation?

The microgrid, the utility, and the utility’s other customers : This session addresses two interrelated relationships, namely (1) the microgrid’s relationship to the utility and (2) the microgrid’s relationship to the utility’s other customers (which could include issues around the migration of customers on and off the microgrid). The relationship between the microgrid and the utility will be shaped by an interconnection agreement, the rates the microgrid pays the utility for use of the utility system and the utility’s services (which may or may not include commodity costs, depending on whether the microgrid is located in a competitive access state). However, with respect to the rate issues in particular, the utility’s other customers may be affected. What are the costs, benefits, externalities and other factors that regulators should consider? Are there rate designs that are more effective, or not, in advancing identified goals? 

The microgrid and the wholesale market : Microgrids may be able to provide services to the wholesale market and the transmission operator, such as black start, demand response, and perhaps load following. However, to do so, market rules must accommodate their participation and the role of the distribution utility, as the intermediary between the microgrid and the transmission grid and wholesale market, must be considered. What are the issues in this space and what is required of regulators (if anything)?

Wrap-up
About the Collaborative Conversations Series

Collaborative Conversations is a new series intended to further thought, discussion, and creative, collaborative solutions around emerging legal and regulatory issues among members of industry, government and academia. Through a format of short presentations, highly engaged participants, and extended but fast-paced discussion periods, under Chatham House Rule, GW Law’s Sustainable Energy Initiative (SEI) hopes that participants with differing views will develop a deeper understanding of complex problems and find common ground. (The Chatham House Rule permits the content of discussions to be used, but without attribution or reference to the identity or affiliation of any participant). While respecting the Chatham House Rule (but with attribution to the GW Law Collaborative Conversations forum, please!), participants are urged to speak and write about the ideas generated at Collaborative Conversation sessions, as will the SEI staff and students, in order to move ideas into actions. 

Other Upcoming Events

October 16-17, 2017: The Energy Bar Association's 2017 Mid-Year Energy Forum brings together one and a half days of top level sessions on all aspects of energy law. Attendees will include attorneys, energy professionals, and students active in all areas of energy law, including antitrust, international energy transactions, legislation and regulatory reform, electric utility regulation, alternative dispute resolution, finance and transactions, and environment and public lands at federal, state, and international levels. Each year, the EBA Mid-Year Energy Forum welcomes 400 attendees and will be approved for MCLE credit and ethics credit. Dates: Monday, October 16, 2017 - 12:00pm to Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 8:30pm. Location: Renaissance Downtown Hotel 999 Ninth Street NW Washington, DC 20001. For more information and to register, see the EBA website .

November 10, 2017: Save the date and check back soon for announcement of another Collaborative Conversation session.