Background

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) was transforming its electricity grid and resource systems in 2021 to meet decarbonization goals established by the State of California, the City of Los Angeles, and the company itself to deliver 100% clean energy by 2035. This venture requires a series of extensive upgrades and new builds along the transmission and distribution system, achievable only through the hiring, training, and retention of qualified personnel over the next decade.

LADWP gathered a team of leading industry experts, including Energeia, to develop an Integrated Human Resources Plan (IHRP) to realize this transition and prepare its workforce to efficiently and effectively deliver the LA100 program.

Services

Energeia, alongside our partners, AECOM and Grid Focus, was contracted to identify the personnel needs associated with long-term power system planning and implement a plan to ramp up the hiring and training of these personnel in accordance with LA100 goals.

To do so, Energeia conducted a thorough review and analysis of current staffing levels, vacancies, and projected needs within the eleven divisions within the Power System section of the organization. Energeia also engaged with senior personnel within each division to obtain LADWP’s qualitative and quantitative feedback on the IHRP process and projected staffing capacity.

Results

Energeia incorporated feedback and data from each Power System division to model annual personnel needs by division through 2032. Energeia reported these results for each of the eleven divisions under four different power system buildout scenarios while also accounting for current hiring and training constraints. Key findings included the identification of three roles that are severely constrained due to training capacity. The identified gap between new hires and projected needs is expected to grow without changes to the current training process.

The broader consulting team subsequently identified areas of improvement within the current hiring and training processes to deliver more qualified personnel, sooner.

Outcome

Phase 1 of the Integrated Human Resources Plan results were presented to the LADWP Board of Commissioners on Oct 25, 2022 (see timestamp 56:26), and discussions are currently being held regarding a revamping of the hiring and training processes in accordance with the consulting team’s recommendations. Energeia will continue to support LADWP throughout the iterative IHRP process as LADWP works to provide affordable, equitable, and reliable clean energy to all customers.

Background

The electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) is a crucial step in achieving sustainability goals and reducing emissions. However, it poses significant challenges for the current grid infrastructure, which was not designed to handle the high-power charging demands of MHDVs, especially during peak periods or in areas with limited grid capacity. Addressing these challenges requires substantial upgrades to transmission and distribution networks, integration of renewable energy sources, and energy storage. Without these upgrades, the electrification transition risks grid instability, increased costs, and delays in meeting climate goals.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to tackling pressing environmental issues, recognized the need to address these challenges. EDF engaged Energeia as a part of a team to analyze grid planning and investment strategies for MHDV electrification. The study focused on determining the economic and technical feasibility of proactive grid investments, which anticipate future needs, compared to sequential investments that address load requirements as they arise. The analysis aimed to identify cost-effective strategies to meet rising EV demand while ensuring reliability and efficiency.

Services/Results

Energeia partnered with Black and Veatch to deliver this report. While there are several different potential proactive investment methods, Energeia’s analysis compared proactive investments in the form of substation voltage upgrades with sequential substation capacity upgrade methods, using case studies of Con Edison in New York and CenterPoint in Texas.

The findings revealed that proactive planning often delivers cost savings when load growth is significant and predictable. A mixed approach combining proactive and sequential strategies was deemed optimal for balancing cost and flexibility across varying circumstances. The study also highlighted the importance of managed charging, demonstrating that tools like time-of-use incentives and active controls can help mitigate peak demand, delay infrastructure upgrades, and lower costs.

Fleet electrification presents additional complexities, including the need to align EV adoption timelines and geospatial location with grid readiness planning so the grid can accommodate high energy demands for MHDV charging. Energeia emphasized the importance of early engagement between utilities and fleet operators to improve forecasting and streamline planning to enable efficient infrastructure development that mitigates the risk of stranded assets.

Outcome

The report, published by EDF on November 6, 2024 here, underscores the value of proactive planning in reducing costs and enhancing grid readiness for MHDVs. Energeia is proud to have supported EDF in advancing its mission to address climate change and promote clean energy. The study provides actionable insights for utilities and stakeholders, contributing to a sustainable, cost-effective future in transportation electrification.

Read about the full Proactive Grid Investment Assessment report here.

Background

With the growing demand and usage of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs), electric utilities are facing important considerations regarding grid reliability and power supply.

California is at the forefront of developing electrification programs and setting emissions reduction targets, including Executive Order N-79-20, requiring all new passenger vehicles sold to be zero emission by 2035, and all medium- to heavy-duty vehicles sold to be zero emission by 2045. As a result, various California utilities, including Roseville Electric Utility (REU), are actively developing PEV programs to incentivize electrification and managed charging to support the grid. Through these initiatives, REU not only commits to a more resilient grid system but also enhances access to electrification for its customers and ensures that challenges posed by PEVs to the system are carefully considered and addressed through advanced planning.

Service

Energeia conducted an assessment of the existing conditions in the Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) and Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) markets, as well as anticipated changes in these markets in the coming years. This evaluation included factors such as vehicle model availability, driving range, and battery capacity for both light-duty and heavy-duty EVs, in order to forecast adoption by individual consumers and fleets. Energeia identified current and potential trends in PEV technology, adoption, and usage to project demand in REU’s service territory.

This project serves as an update to previous work conducted by AECOM and Energeia in 2018, which focused on PEV projections, technologies, and resources, including the required infrastructure for Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) over the next decade. The earlier study also examined the impacts on Roseville’s electric grid and recommended implementation practices to minimize strain on the grid and mitigate emissions. The aim of the current study is to inform REU of changes in the transportation electrification landscape and update forecasts of PEV adoption and grid impacts in REU’s service territory. Energeia’s work equipped REU with the necessary information and capacity to offer sufficient and easily accessible charging infrastructure to Roseville residents.

Results

As part of this analysis, Energeia discovered that Level 3 –DCFC are increasingly accessible to the general public, along with the emergence of Vehicle to Grid (V2G) charging. Both advancements were projected to become standard in the future.

Energeia developed three bottom-up models for REU, including a PEV Uptake Model to forecast PEV adoption over time by vehicle type, an 8760 Model to forecast charging load by vehicle type and charging location, and a Grid Impacts Model to project the count of PEVs, peak load kWs, and V2G load by transformer over time. Energeia’s grid impact analysis determined that impacts are highest around DCFC locations, parking lots, and commercial and government depots due to vehicle concentrations and projected implementation of high-power DCFC charging solutions.

Outcome

The results of Energeia’s PEV Update Study have been presented to REU and recorded in a final report.

Energeia is helping rewrite the for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) across the Philippines

Background

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine government are teaming up to deliver Energy Secure Philippines (ESP), a five-year project to develop an environmentally cleaner, more secure, and more resilient Philippine energy sector. A key initiative within the ESP program will be the deployment of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). This technology will facilitate secure, resilient, and automated communication between utilities and their customers.

Service/Results

USAID contracted Energeia to provide bespoke research and subject matter expertise to support ongoing AMI regulation updates to align the Philippines with international industry standards and identify best practices. Up-to-date regulations informed by best practice research  support a cost-effective and efficient transition to a smart metering system.

Energeia evaluated over 80 international studies on AMI to identify industry trends in the deployment, regulation, and cost-effectiveness of widespread AMI rollouts. This best practice research found that rollouts using a maximize net benefits and more fairly allocate costs to benefits by allowing customers to gain early access for a fee. A ‘new and replacement’ strategy limits smart meter deployment to new buildings and end-of-life replacements, protecting utilities and customers from the sunk costs of replacing the previous generation of meters before their end-of-life.

In addition to this insight, Energeia found that successful deployment of AMI is also contingent on customer education, data security and privacy, organizational change management, and proactive benefits management.

Energeia also surveyed 144 Filipino distribution utilities to assess the current state of AMI readiness and identify key priorities and concerns. Most respondents reported that their smart grid plans are ongoing or not yet started, with nearly 75% of respondents reporting a planned AMI rollout within the next 5-10 years.

Outcome

Following the review of international best practices and survey outcomes, Energeia  recommended AMI regulation updates for the Philippines to align with industry standards and support a successful deployment of AMI across the country.

The updated regulations by the Philippine Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in April 2023 and are currently in the public consultation stage. Energeia is providing ongoing support to USAID and the ERC throughout this process until the updated AMI rules are fully in effect.

The Fresno County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) has prepared this Electrical Grid Analysis Study (Study) to identify the impacts of the anticipated increased electrification on the electric grid system and the unique challenges faced by rural communities serviced by FCRTA. Electrification is the transition from fossil fuels to electricity to power multiple sectors such as the transportation, residential and commercial buildings, industrial, and agriculture sectors.

Read the full report here.

For more information on Energeia’s research and analysis in DER enablement, please contact us at insights@energeia-usa.com

In response to California’s ambitious climate goals—Executive Order B-55-18 and Senate Bill 100 mandating carbon neutrality by 2045—Valley Clean Energy (VCE) is evaluating pathways to achieve zero carbon electricity by 2030. This effort aligns with more aggressive targets set by utilities like Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (2030) and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) (2035). 

Four optimized resource portfolios were modeled under two carbon balancing approaches—hour-by-hour (HBH) and annual carbon neutrality (CN)—and two resource constraints: carbon-free (including large hydro) and renewable-only (excluding large hydro). Solar PV and 4-hour lithium-ion batteries emerged as the most cost-effective core technologies, supplemented by other dispatchable resources.

The analysis revealed that achieving HBH neutrality would cost approximately $42.6 million annually—250% more than the $17 million required for annual CN. Sensitivity analysis showed that excluding green hydrogen and limiting energy sales to CAISO could further increase costs by $13 million annually. These findings will inform VCE’s strategic and resource planning as it considers practical pathways to a zero-carbon future.

Read the full report here.

For more information on Energeia’s research and analysis in reduced carbon emission portfolios, please contact us at insights@energeia-usa.com

The Kings County Association of Governments’ (KCAG) Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan (EVRP) for
Kings County was developed to support increased adoption of Plug-In Electric Vehicles (PEVs) within the
county. The document is the result of efforts led by the Kings County Association of Governments (KCAG) to develop a plan that coordinates implementation and siting of appropriate PEV charging infrastructure. Beyond siting, the EVRP is also intended to inform agencies, government agencies, and other partners in PEV infrastructure of relevant best practices, funding opportunities, and technical analysis to meet the electric vehicle needs of the area and its anticipated growth.

Read the full report here.

For more information on Energeia’s research and analysis in DER enablement, please contact us at insights@energeia-usa.com

Kansas Legislature passed the Substitute for Senate Bill 69, calling for a study of retail electricity rates of Kansas electric public utilities. To address this task, a two-part Study will inform future legislative and regulatory efforts to establish policies that support regionally competitive electric rates and reliable service. Part 1 of the Study, which was completed by London Economics International, LLC in January of 2020, assessed the effectiveness of current Kansas ratemaking practices and explored possible approaches for the Kansas Legislature and Kansas Corporation Commission to make retail electricity prices regionally competitive. Part 2 of Study, addressed in this document, addresses 13 matters with topics including the regional economy, regional planning processes, regional electricity market, transmission investments, impacts of advanced energy solutions, and physical and cyber security processes. Kansas public utilities included in the Study include investor owned utilities, three municipally owned utilities, and 26 electric cooperatives.

Read the full report here.

For more information on Energeia’s research and analysis in DER enablement, please contact us at insights@energeia-usa.com

The Fresno Council of Governments’ (FCOG) Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan (EVRP) was developed
to identify locations for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and ultimately contribute to increased
local electric vehicle adoption. The EVRP development was led by FCOG in partnership with the Fresno
County Rural Transit Agency (FCRTA) and funding from Caltrans. To inform siting recommendations,
the document includes the results of technical analysis driven by electrification trends and forecast.
The analysis included an assessment of barriers to electrification, an evaluation of expected electric
vehicle adoption, expected emissions reductions, types of chargers recommended for specific sites,
and magnitude of cost for implementation of a robust charging network within Fresno County. The EVRP
was developed with active stakeholder participation and reflects FCOG’s commitment to community
engagement to ensure that recommendations appropriately capture local priorities.

Read the full report here.

For more information on Energeia’s research and analysis in DER enablement, please contact us at insights@energeia-usa.com