1 NORTHWEST ENERGY EFFICIENCY ALLIANCE

NEEA Long-Term Monitoring and Tracking Distribution Efficiency (DE) Study

RTF – January 21, 2015Christopher Frye – NEEA; (Jeff Harris - NEEA presenting)

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Distribution Efficiency Study

Part of NEEA’s Long Term Monitoring and Tracking of previously funded MT Programs (Distribution Efficiency Initiative 2003-2007)

Market Characterization conducted in 2013; Avista DE Impact Evaluation 2014

Study conducted by Navigant Consulting, Inc.

Final Report, June 2014 here:http://neea.org/docs/default-source/reports/long-term-monitoring-and-tracking-distribution-efficiency.pdf?sfvrsn=5

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Study Focused on Two Main Areas:

Current State of the Market: Current rate of adoption Awareness, understanding Attitudes/barriers and drivers Evaluation practices and progress Future Plans

DE Evaluation Tool Assessment: Utility CVR Program Review Existing Tool Assessment

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Case Study: Avista DE Impact Evaluation

Avista DE Program Characterization Comparison of methods:

RTF CVR Protocol #1 WSU VO Validation Methodology Navigant Regression

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DE Market Characterization Sample

DEI Sample Stratum

DE Sample Completed

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Market Characterization Findings:

• Active utilities participated in ESUE program or have regulatory/legislative (e.g. I-937) directives; • Awareness/understanding of DE efforts is fairly high (all IOUs and Active Publics) but not always the case at smaller, more rural utilities; • Respondents overwhelmingly believe that there are opportunities for efficiency improvements on their distribution systems, and that utilities should be investing in those opportunities, though many caution that the cost-effectiveness of such investment is not always clear. • Two biggest barriers noted were capital availability and cost-effectiveness – others included low priority for DE, knowledge about opportunities, personnel constraints, system constraints, and regulatory constraints.

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Market Characterization Findings: (cont’d)

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DE Tools Evaluation Findings:

Many tools available; ranging from system simulation tools to statistical regression

Simulation tools/engineering assessment used primarily for project feasibility C/E evaluation

Some utility experience with RTF Protocol #1 but not many meeting exact requirements

Several cited use of RTF Simplified VO M&V Protocol to estimate/report savings.

AMI integration provides new, less expensive data collection / VO opportunities

CVR integration with Distr. Management Systems (DMS) now on the market.

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DE Tools Evaluation: Fully Integrated Solution

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Avista Impact Evaluation:

Smart Grid 2.0 project. Two locations: Spokane: 14 Substations; 58 feeders Pullman: 3 Substations; 13 feeders

AMI enabled Integrated volt/VAR controls

Implemented in 2013, commissioning completed Dec 2013

CVR data collection January–April 2014

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Avista Impact Evaluation:

ApproachSavings Estimate

(MWh)

RTF Automated CVR Protocol #1

42,292

Navigant Regression Methodology

42,374