The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is developing a pilot project to investigate how distributed energy resources can boost electric reliability and deliver the proposal to ERCOT by October 11, 2022 to meet a pilot start date in Q1 2023.
ADER Pilot Projects allow ERCOT to evaluate costs and benefits of proposals without full implementation through ERCOT Protocols.
Specifically, the pilot will answer how aggregated distributed generation can support reliability, enhance the wholesale market, incentivize investment, potentially reduce transmission and distribution investments and support better load management during emergencies. The pilot is expected to run for three years.
A 20-member stakeholder committee includes four categories: transmission and distribution providers; rural electric providers; ADER providers; and technical expertise/institutions. Amy Heart, vice president of public policy at Sunrun and TXSES board member, is on the ADER providers committee.
Transmission and Distribution Service Providers
Jason Ryan, CenterPoint Energy Chair
Alejandro Ramirez, AEP
Andrew Higgins, CPS Energy
John Padalino, Bandera Electric Cooperative
Martha Henson, Oncor
Retail Electric Providers
Arushi Sharma Frank, Tesla
James McGinnis, David Energy
Michael Lee, Octopus Energy
Ned Bonskowski, Vistra
Resmi Surendran, Shell Vice Chair
ADER Providers
Amy Heart, SunRun
J. T. Thompson, Generac
Joel Yu, Enchanted Rock
John Bonnin, AutoGrid
Suzanne Bertin, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance (TAEBA)
Technical Expertise/Institutions
Carmen Best, Recurve
Erik Ela, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Margo Weisz, Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI)
Miroslav Begovic, Texas A&M University
Scott Hinson, Pecan Street