The recommendations are pouring into the California Public Utilities Commission as it attempts to translate into regulation a law (SB 1339) that calls for the state to facilitate the commercialization of microgrids (19-09-009).
When the law was passed last year, its backers saw microgrids as good risk planning. Now the risk is real with massive power shutoffs in recent weeks by utilities attempting to avert wildfires. The state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, has warned that such outages could be the norm for a decade.
Millions of Californians have lost power, inducing anger, chaos and economic loss. For those who rely on medical devices that run on electricity, the outages mean danger.
“As planned power shutdowns interrupt daily life and business for hundreds of thousands of ratepayers — and pocketbooks, health, and even life for the most vulnerable — it is imperative that California accelerate action on implementing microgrids,” said the California Hydrogen Business Council in comments filed with the commission.
Microgrid companies see surge in inquiries
Not surprisingly, microgrid companies report a surge in requests for installations from California businesses, communities and institutions seeking a way to ensure that they have power when the utility shuts down its service.
“Since the first widespread PSPS [public service power shutoffs] event in June, demand for distributed energy resources has spiked and has begun to surpass supply,” Scale Microgrid told the commission. “It is inevitable that California’s grid will become more distributed with or without the help of the state.”
But the speed and equity of the microgrid ramp up depends on the state stepping up and rethinking its microgrid strategies for the short and long-term, Scale Microgrid added.
Others told the commission that overly restrictive permitting rules and interconnection requirements stymie microgrid installations.
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