Distributed generation, also distributed energy, on-site generation (OSG), or district/decentralized energy, is electrical generation and storage performed by a variety of small, grid-connected or distribution system-connected devices referred to as distributed energy resources (DER).
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), the principal subsidiary of NextEra Energy Inc., is a Juno Beach, Florida-based power utility company serving roughly 4.9 million accounts and 10 million people in Florida. It generates, transmits, distributes and sells electric energy.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) specializes in the research and development of renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy systems integration, and sustainable transportation. NREL is a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Department of Energy and operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, a joint venture between MRIGlobal and Battelle. Located in Golden, Colorado, NREL is home to the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) is an American organization that operates Texas's electrical grid, the Texas Interconnection, which supplies power to more than 25 million Texas customers and represents 90 percent of the state's electric load. ERCOT is the first independent system operator (ISO) in the United States and one of nine ISOs in North America. ERCOT works with the Texas Reliability Entity (TRE), one of eight regional entities within the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) that coordinate to improve reliability of the bulk power grid.
A regional transmission organization (RTO) in the United States is an electric power transmission system operator (TSO) that coordinates, controls, and monitors a multi-state electric grid. The transfer of electricity between states is considered interstate commerce, and electric grids spanning multiple states are therefore regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The voluntary creation of RTOs was initiated by FERC Order No. 2000, issued on December 20, 1999. The purpose of the RTO is to promote economic efficiency, reliability, and non-discriminatory practices while reducing government oversight.
The Texas Interconnection is an alternating current (AC) power grid – a wide area synchronous grid – that covers most of the state of Texas. The grid is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is an association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies.
A smart grid is an electrical grid which includes a variety of operation and energy measures including:
The Under Secretary of Energy for Energy and Environment, also known as the Under Secretary of Energy, is a position within the United States Department of Energy. The under secretary oversees the department's energy and environment programs, including environmental cleanup of the nuclear weapons complex, nuclear waste management efforts, and applied energy research and developmental activities.
The Assistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability is the head of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability within the United States Department of Energy. The Office leads efforts to modernize the electric grid. It does this through the development and implementation of national policy pertaining to electric grid reliability, and through the management of research, development, and demonstration activities for "next generation" electric grid infrastructure technologies.
Kevin M. Kolevar is Vice President, Government Affairs, Public Policy and Issues Management at the Dow Chemical Company. He joined Dow Chemical in 2009 after serving as the Assistant Secretary for Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability in the United States Department of Energy.
An electrical grid is an interconnected network for electricity delivery from producers to consumers. Electrical grids vary in size and can cover whole countries or continents. It consists of:
ARPA-E, or Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy is a United States government agency tasked with promoting and funding research and development of advanced energy technologies. It is modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) is a program office within the United States Department of Energy. The mission of OE is "to lead national efforts to modernize the electric grid; enhance security and reliability of the energy infrastructure; and facilitate recovery from disruptions to energy supply."
Energy in Australia is the production in Australia of energy and electricity, for consumption or export. Energy policy of Australia describes the politics of Australia as it relates to energy.
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) is the national association representing the state public service commissioners who regulate essential utility services, including energy, telecommunications, and water. NARUC members are responsible for assuring reliable utility service at fair, just, and reasonable rates. Founded in 1889, the Association is a resource for its members and the regulatory community, providing a venue to set and influence public policy, share best practices, and foster solutions to improve regulation.
The term Smart Grid describes a next-generation electric power system that is classified by the increased use of communication and information technology in the generation, delivery, and consumption of electrical energy. For individual consumers, smart grid technology offers more control over electricity consumption. Typically, the goal is greater overall energy efficiency.
Dr. Paul N. Stockton is the President of Paul N Stockton LLC, a strategic advisory firm in Santa Fe, NM. From 2009-2013, Dr. Stockton served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs, where he helped lead the Department's response to Hurricane Sandy. He was responsible for Defense Critical Infrastructure Protection, Western Hemisphere security policy, domestic crisis management, continuity of operations planning, and a range of other responsibilities. While Assistant Secretary, Dr. Stockton also served as Executive Director of the Council of Governors. After serving as Assistant Secretary, Dr. Stockton was the Managing Director of Sonecon LLC, an advisory firm in Washington, DC, from 2013-2020.
Mark Gerald Lauby is an electrical engineer working for the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) in Atlanta, Georgia where he is Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer. Lauby was named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2012 for his work in the development and application of techniques for bulk power system reliability. He also received the IEEE PES Roy Billinton Award in 2014 for his contribution to reliability of electric power systems and currently is a committee member for the award. In 2020, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) elected Mr. Lauby as a member, citing his development and application of techniques for electric grid reliability analysis.
In February 2021, the state of Texas suffered a major power crisis, which came about as a result of three severe winter storms sweeping across the United States on February 10–11, 13–17, and 15–20; a massive electricity generation failure in the state of Texas; and resultant shortages of water, food, and heat. More than 4.5 million homes and businesses were left without power, some for several days. At least 151 people were killed directly or indirectly.
