The Public Service Commission has opened a proceeding to identify technologies and policies that can modernize the electric grid in order to make it more sustainable, reliable, efficient, cost-effective and interactive. Such technologies could include energy storage, microgrids, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, and “enabling technologies.” The PSC will hold a kickoff workshop on October to provide an overview of the current distribution system and to discuss the Commission’s future plans for investigation. The PSC will accept comments on the scope of the proceeding through August 31.

This proceeding arose from a request by Grid 2.0 and the Sierra Club of the District of Columbia for the PSC to investigate technologies that could bolster the sustainability of Pepco’s grid.

Note: A recent EQ Research report found that U.S. electric utilities took 68% longer to grant permission to operate (PTO) new PV systems installed in 2014 than in 2013. Of the approximately three dozen utilities included in the analysis, customers of Pepco in the District of Columbia and Maryland endured the longest waiting periods in 2014. The full report is available here.