Distributed generation and its implications for the utility industry

__Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry__ examines the current state of the electric supply industry; the upstream and downstream of the meter; the various technological, business, and regulatory strategies; and case studies that look at a number of projects that put new models into practice. A number of powerful trends are beginning to affect the fundamentals of the electric utility business as we know it. Recent developments have led to a fundamental re-thinking of the electric supply industry and its traditional method of measuring consumption on a volumetric basis. These developments include decreasing electricity demand growth; the rising cost of fossil fuels and its impact on electricity costs; investment in energy efficiency; increasing numbers of prosumers who generate for some or all of their own needs; and market reforms. This book examines the implications of these trends in chapters focusing on distributed and decentralized generation, transactive energy, the role of electric vehicles, any much more. * Discusses the technological, business, and policy trends most impacting the electric utility sector * Provides an assessment of how fast and how soon distributed energy resources may make an impact on utility sales/revenues * Explores, through a series of international case studies, the implementation of strategies that may help retain the viability of the utility industry * Features contributions from a number of scholars, academics, experts and practitioners from different parts of the world focused on examining the future of the electric supply industry Content: Front Matter, Pages i-ii Copyright, Page iv Author Biographies, Pages ix-xxvi Foreword, Pages xxvii-xxviii Preface, Pages xxix-xxxi Introduction: The Rise of Decentralized Energy, Pages xxxiii-li Chapter 1 - Decentralized Energy: Is It as Imminent or Serious as Claimed?, Pages 3-32 Chapter 2 - New Utility Business Model: A Global View, Pages 33-47 Chapter 3 - Germany's Decentralized Energy Revolution, Pages 49-73 Chapter 4 - Australia's Million Solar Roofs: Disruption on the Fringes or the Beginning of a New Order?, Pages 75-96 Chapter 5 - As the Role of the Distributor Changes, so Will the Need for New Technology, Pages 97-121 Chapter 6 - The Impact of Distributed Generation on European Power Utilities, Pages 123-139 Chapter 7 - Lessons from Other Industries Facing Disruptive Technology, Pages 141-162 Chapter 8 - Electricity Markets and Pricing for the Distributed Generation Era, Pages 165-187 Chapter 9 - Transactive Energy: Linking Supply and Demand Through Price Signals, Pages 189-204 Chapter 10 - Transactive Energy: Interoperable Transactive Retail Tariffs, Pages 205-229 Chapter 11 - The Next Evolution of the Distribution Utility, Pages 231-249 Chapter 12 - An Expanded Distribution Utility Business Model: Win-Win or Win-Maybe?, Pages 251-265 Chapter 13 - From Throughput to Access Fees: The Future of Network and Retail Tariffs, Pages 267-286 Chapter 14 - Industry Response to Revenue Erosion from Solar PVs, Pages 287-301 Chapter 15 - Making the Most of the No Load Growth Business Environment, Pages 303-320 Chapter 16 - Regulatory Policies for the Transition to the New Business Paradigm, Pages 321-334 Chapter 17 - Electric Vehicles: New Problem or Distributed Energy Asset?, Pages 335-355 Chapter 18 - Rethinking the Transmission-Distribution Interface in a Distributed Energy Future, Pages 359-377 Chapter 19 - Decentralized Generation in Australia's National Electricity Market? No Problem, Pages 379-397 Chapter 20 - What Future for the Grid Operator?, Pages 399-415 Chapter 21 - Utility 2.0: Maryland's Pilot Design, Pages 417-434 Chapter 22 - Turning a Vision to Reality: Boulder's Utility of the Future, Pages 435-452 Chapter 23 - Perfect Storm or Perfect Opportunity? Future Scenarios for the Electricity Sector, Pages 453-474 Chapter 24 - Revolution, Evolution, or Back to the Future? Lessons from the Electricity Supply Industry's Formative Days, Pages 475-499 Epilogue, Pages 501-503 Index, Pages 505-520

Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry examines the current state of the electric supply industry; the upstream and downstream of the meter; the various technological, business, and regulatory strategies; and case studies that look at a number of projects that put new models into practice.

A number of powerful trends are beginning to affect the fundamentals of the electric utility business as we know it. Recent developments have led to a fundamental re-thinking of the electric supply industry and its traditional method of measuring consumption on a volumetric basis. These developments include decreasing electricity demand growth; the rising cost of fossil fuels and its impact on electricity costs; investment in energy efficiency; increasing numbers of prosumers who generate for some or all of their own needs; and market reforms.

This book examines the implications of these trends in chapters focusing on distributed and decentralized generation, transactive energy, the role of electric vehicles, any much more.

• Discusses the technological, business, and policy trends most impacting the electric utility sector
• Provides an assessment of how fast and how soon distributed energy resources may make an impact on utility sales/revenues
• Explores, through a series of international case studies, the implementation of strategies that may help retain the viability of the utility industry
• Features contributions from a number of scholars, academics, experts and practitioners from different parts of the world focused on examining the future of the electric supply industry