DIVERSITY AND SECURITY
MICROGRIDS

Adopt standardized microgrid interconnection requirements and develop clear rules for how microgrid owners interact with utilities.

MEI GRADE

REFERENCE TO 2015 PLAN   |   ACTION TAKEN
 |  SCORE   |   STEPS TO COMPLETION​

REFERENCE POINT 
​ ​IN 2015 PLAN
- NONE PROVIDED FOR NOW - 
​
ACTION TAKEN
Contracted with the Missouri S&T Microgrid Industrial Consortium to develop recommended best practices for microgrid interconnection requirements and a standard interconnection process. DE included this report and recommendation in comments filed in “Working Case to Consider Policies to Improve Electric Utility Regulation” (EW-2016-0313). Empire agreed to consider MS&T recommendations as part of merger agreement (EM-2016-0213). PSC Staff recommended review of net metering and cogeneration rules (EW-2017-0245), which may provide another avenue to pursue best practices. Participating in PSC working docket on cogeneration and net metering rules and docket on DER planning.

WHO TOOK ACTION​​

​​MEI GRADE / SCORE ​

​MEI RATIONALE FOR GRADE
Early stages. Need more engagement by responsible parties to complete goal.

​​STEPS TO COMPLETION
Further progress steps include submitting standards and educating to achieve understanding in cases (and submit in distributed energy resource workshop when appropriate), updating the standards, and gaining adoption of standards/approval by PSC.
​
​​WHO IS IN CONTROL OF DESTINY

​Develop microgrid tariff structures by Missouri utilities for review and approval by the PSC that would Not be punitive or discriminating and appropriately price
various types of standby
power.
​

MEI GRADE

REFERENCE TO 2015 PLAN   |   ACTION TAKEN
 |  SCORE   |   STEPS TO COMPLETION​

REFERENCE POINT 
​ ​IN 2015 PLAN
Encourage microgrid development in areas of the grid that are congested or experiencing rapid demand growth.
​
ACTION TAKEN
​Initiated utility/stakeholder workshops in pursuit of cost-based standby tariffs. The first workshop effort resulted in a framework for a standby service rider (SSR). The first IOU SSR resulting from the workshop took effect on April 1, 2017. A second group of IOUs will have new SSRs in effect following advocacy and technical input from DE. Participating in PSC working docket on cogeneration and net metering rules. ​

WHO TOOK ACTION

​​MEI GRADE / SCORE ​

​​​​MEI RATIONALE FOR GRADE
Early stages. Need more engagement by responsible parties to complete goal.

​​STEPS TO COMPLETION
Further progress steps include continuing work toward having a major utility adopt best practices in standby tariff, creating a more standard adoption of best practices in tariffs, and working to have customers take service under tariffs.
​
​​WHO IS IN CONTROL OF DESTINY

​Require that microgrid owners and operators provide utilities with information that will affect planning including information about capacity, system design, and location.
​

MEI GRADE

REFERENCE TO 2015 PLAN   |   ACTION TAKEN
 |  SCORE   |   STEPS TO COMPLETION​

REFERENCE POINT 
​ ​IN 2015 PLAN
- NONE PROVIDED FOR NOW - 
​
ACTION TAKEN
​Participating in PSC working docket on cogeneration and net metering rules.

WHO TOOK ACTION​

​​MEI GRADE / SCORE ​

​​​MEI RATIONALE FOR GRADE
Early stages. Only discussions occurring. Need more engagement from responsible parties. ​

​​STEPS TO COMPLETION
​Further progress steps include incorporating best practices in utility planning and customer-utility interactions, utilities implementing best practices in distribution system planning, and receiving information from customers.
​
​​WHO IS IN CONTROL OF DESTINY