REV Demonstration Projects

On February 26, 2015, as part of the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding the NYS Public Service Commission issued the Order Adopting Regulatory Policy Framework and Implementation Plans for which the Public Service Commission (PSC) directed the six large investor owned utilities (IOUs) to develop and file proposed demonstration projects, now commonly known as REV Demo Projects. These six IOUs include Central Hudson, Orange & Rockland, Con Edison, National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas (NSYEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E).

By utilizing utility and third party partnerships when appropriate, REV Demo Projects aim to drive innovative, scalable, and replicable solutions that benefit both energy customers and utility shareholders. As such, the demonstration projects provide an opportunity to inform decision makers including those developing Distributed System Platforms (DSPs), those measuring customer feedback to the program and pricing, and those attempting to streamline Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) implementation.

To adhere to the goals laid out in the Order, the PSC outlined the following eight principles that REV Demo Projects must adhere to:

  • REV demonstration should include partnership between utility and third party service providers.
  • The utility should identify questions it hopes to answer or problems or situations on the grid and the market should respond with solutions.
  • Demonstrations should delineate how the generated economic value is divided between the customer, utility and third party service.
  • The market for grid services should be competitive.
  • While some demonstrations may be bilateral, and therefore may not be “competitive” per se, utilities and service provider should propose rules (data, terms, standards, etc.) that will help create subsequently competitive markets.
  • Demonstrations should inform pricing and rate design modifications.
  • Utility and third party service provider(s) should consider deploying in their demonstrations advanced distribution systems.
  • Utilities should explore opportunities in their demonstrations to work with and include various residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial customer participants.

REV demo project ideas can also be submitted through REV connect, a portal administered by NYSERDA that encourages companies to connect with the State’s investor-owned electric utilities. REV Connect offers streamlined evaluation, expert feedback, and, if successful, an opportunity to be matched with one of the New York utilities and other potential market partners.

How to submit your idea. New York seeks REV Demo Projects on an ongoing basis. If you have a service, product, or business model that can generate value that would be shared among energy customers, third parties, and utilities, click here to submit your idea to REV Connect.

REPORTS

REV Demonstration Projects

Central Hudson: CenHub Marketplace, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | The CenHub REV demonstration project strives to create a home energy advisory platform providing insight into energy usage for residential customers and accessibility to energy efficiency programs; introduce new channels and cross promotion for customers to participate in energy and cost savings programs; increase awareness and customer choice of products and services; enhance customer convenience; lower third-party customer acquisition and transaction costs; and evaluate potential new revenue streams. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Orange & Rockland: Residential Customer Marketplace, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | The Customer Engagement Marketplace Platform (CEMP) REV demonstration project was designed to build partnerships with a network of third-party product and service providers to help increase consumer awareness of energy consumption, motivate customers to participate in O&R programs, increase distribution / adoption of DER and develop new revenue streams for O&R and its partners. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Con Edison: Building Efficiency Marketplace, Q2 2018 Report
July 26, 2018 | Examining how interval meter data analytics can enable targeting and multi-channel engagement of commercial customers with high energy efficiency savings and demand reduction potential, this REV demonstration project includes a web-based portal to engage customers on how their buildings consume energy, their potential energy savings and demand reduction opportunities, as well as an Energy Insights Marketplace to streamline connections between customers and energy efficiency market partners. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Con Edison: CONnectED Homes Platform, Q2 2018 Report
July 26, 2018 | This REV demonstration project seeks to provide residential customers in Con Edison’s service territory with tools to proactively connect customers with cost-effective energy-efficiency products and services and distribution generation offerings that will be most relevant to them. The Project aims to remove barriers to residential adoption of DERs and drive the DER market by using customer usage data and advanced data analytics to match customer needs with vetted DER products. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

NYSEG/RG&E: Flexible Interconnect Capacity Solution, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | This REV demo project tests a new model for interconnecting DERs to the distribution grid using Active Network Management (ANM) rather than firm capacity, enabling the utility to manage DER within grid constraints using real-time sensing and controls, thereby avoiding more expensive upgrades. The model provides the potential to save on interconnections costs with minimal curtailment on DER, aiding economic viability, and provides the potential for greater penetration of DER. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

NYSEG: Community Energy Coordination, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | The Community Energy Coordination (CEC) effort has transitioned from a REV demonstration project to become part of the NYSEG Energy Smart Community, with a new URL and additional project scope. Now called NYSEG Smart Solutions, the new iteration of the website includes an energy products marketplace and energy services that were offered through the CEC demo project. Performance of NYSEG Smart Solutions will be reported through quarterly Energy Smart Community status reports. There will be no additional project expenditures for the CEC demonstration project. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

National Grid: Resiliency Demonstration in Potsdam, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | National Grid and a number of partners have teamed in this REV demonstration project to develop financial and engineering plans for a community microgrid that would improve local energy resiliency during severe weather events in the Village of Potsdam in upstate New York. Potsdam and surrounding St. Lawrence County have experienced multi-day power outages as a result of microbursts and winter ice storms. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

National Grid: Fruit Belt Neighborhood Solar, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | Solar-generated energy and financial benefits are provided to low-to-moderate (LMI) customers and grid efficiencies are delivered to the local electric distribution system through this REV demonstration project, led by National Grid and a number of partners. The project also explores the social aspects of building positive relationships within the Fruit Bet community through increasing energy awareness and project participation. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

RG&E: Energy Marketplace, Q1 2018 Report
April 30, 2018 | The RG&E Energy Marketplace is an ecommerce site designed to test energy-related online transactions, customer satisfaction, and delivery of more comprehensive energy solutions for customers. The platform also is testing methods to customize, engage, and grow the market for energy-related products and services by connecting with customers on DER offerings through targeted marketing and tailored content. The Q1 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

National Grid: BNMC DSP Engagement Tool, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | This Distributed System Platform (DSP) REV demonstration project aims to develop, deploy, and test a first-of-its-kind solution to create a new distribution-level energy market. The project will identify the local generation value of customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs) and provide a platform allowing these assets to participate and provide energy and/or ancillary services to the electric distribution system. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

National Grid: Demand Reduction Demonstration Project in Clifton Park, Q2 2018 Report
July 31, 2018 | Designed to leverage infrastructure investments and distributed energy resources (DERs) to provide residential customers in Clifton Park with price signals, tools and information to reduce electricity demand during peak times, the REV demonstration project aligns with a key REV goal of electric peak reduction. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

National Grid: Distributed Generation Interconnection, Q1 2018 Report
May 1, 2018 | In this REV demonstration project, National Grid tests alternative solutions for increasing the pace and scale of interconnecting distribution generation (DG) systems above 50 kW through upfront investments by the company coupled with a cost-allocation methodology aimed at removing barriers for DG interconnection applicants. It is proposed that the solutions be tested at the Peterboro and East Golah National Grid substations. The Q1 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Con Edison: Commercial Battery Storage, Q2 2018 Report
July 26, 2018 | Executed by Con Edison in partnership with GI Energy and Smarter Grid Solutions, this REV demonstration project is designed to show how distributed, front-of-the-meter (FTM) energy storage can be used to provide transmission and distribution (T&D) support, earn wholesale market revenues, and increase the market size of participating customers by aligning the interest of the company, customers, and third-party developer. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Con Edison: Storage on Demand, Q2 2018 Report
July 26, 2018 | In this REV demonstration project, Con Edison and NGR Energy partner to show how mobile storage assets can increase their useful value to the distribution system under multiple-use cases such as transmission and distribution (T&D) deferral, low-voltage support, and temporary load needs in multiple locations. The project will also demonstrate the ability of storage to participate in and earn revenues from New York Independent System Operator (“NYISO”) wholesale markets. The Q2 2018 report is the most recent installment of the project. Previous filings can be found here.

Regulatory Reports

Order Adopting Regulatory Policy Framework and Implementation Plan
February 26, 2015 | Case 14-M-0101 | As part of the REV initiative, the Public Service Commission (PSC) commenced a proceeding to reform New York’s energy industry and regulatory practices (Case 14-M-0101). REV will align electric utility practices and the Commission’s regulatory model with technological advances that have created alternatives to traditional solutions to meeting electricity demand.

Memorandum and Resolution on Demonstration Projects
December 12, 2014 | Case 14-M-0101 | In this Memorandum and Resolution, The State of New York Public Service Commission encourages utilities and third parties to work together to develop potential REV demonstration projects, which will be an important step in implementing REV policy changes and will inform decisions on developing Distributed System Platform (DSP) functionalities, measuring customer response to programs / prices associated with REV markets, and determining the most effective implementation of distributed energy resources (DERs).

Independent & Stakeholder Reports

REV Connect: Lessons from REV Demos in New York’s Energy System
January 17, 2018 | This REV Connect webinar provides useful information on the principles of REV Demo Projects and lessons learned from projects led by New York utilities.

Minding the Gaps: Identifying Priority Areas for REV Demonstration Projects to Address
June 2015 | This report, by the Frank J. Guarini Center on Environmental, Energy and Land Use Law, New York University School of Law, assesses the extent to which existing pilot projects address the principles that The State of New York Public Service Commission has outlined for impending REV demonstration project proposals.

California and New York DER Demonstration Projects
May 2017 | This report by Scott Madden Management Consultants provides lessons learned from the New York REV proceeding and Distribution Resource Plans (DRP) in California. The report specifically addresses the policy, technical, and business model implications of integrating DERs.

RESOURCES

DPS REV: Demonstration Projects
This section of the New York State DPS website provides useful information on the REV demonstration projects, including how the projects help advance REV goals and ways in which to submit new projects.

Proceeding on Motion of the Commission in Regard to Reforming the Energy Vision
Case 14-M-0101 | The State of New York Public Service Commission-Instituted New Case Proceeding on the Motion of the Commission in Regard to Reforming the Energy Vision. Features rulings, motions, notices, plans and proposals, comments, correspondence, and reports in relation to the Proceeding.

REV Connect: Principles for REV Demonstrations
This website page features a link to the Memorandum and Resolution on REV Demonstration Projects and a listing of the six REV Demonstration principles in the context of REV Connect.

UPCOMING EVENTS

REV Connect offers numerous workshops and webinars. Check this page often for upcoming events or visit https://nyrevconnect.com/webinars-workshops/.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS