Current through September 16, 2024
1. The resource plan
of a utility must contain a distributed resources plan for the 3 years covered
by the action plan of the utility. The distributed resources plan of a utility
must be consistent with the action plan of the utility.
2. The distributed resources plan must:
(a) Identify and evaluate the locational
benefits and costs of distributed resources. The evaluation must be based on:
(1) Reductions or increases in local
generation capacity needs;
(2)
Avoided or increased localized investments in distribution
infrastructure;
(3) Reductions or
increases in safety benefits of the electric grid;
(4) Reductions or increases in the
reliability benefits of the electric grid;
(5) Any other localized savings that the
distributed resources provide to the electric grid; and
(6) Any other costs that distributed
resources impose on customers of the electric utility or
utilities.
(b) As part of
the distributed resources plan, the utility may propose tariffs, bilateral
contracts, competitive solicitations or other mechanisms that it has identified
and evaluated that maximize locational benefits and minimize the incremental
cost of distributed resources.
(c)
Identify existing programs approved by the Commission that address the
deployment of distributed resources, including, without limitation, tariffs and
incentives, and propose cost-effective methods of effectively coordinating the
deployment of distributed resources with such existing programs to maximize the
locational benefits and minimize the incremental costs of distributed
resources.
(d) Identify and evaluate
any incremental utility investment or expenditure necessary to integrate
cost-effective distributed resources into the distribution planning process
consistent with the goal of yielding a net benefit to the customers of the
electric utility or utilities.
(e)
Identify and evaluate potential barriers to the deployment of distributed
resources, including, without limitation, safety standards related to
technology or operation of the distribution system and make recommendations
regarding accepting or overcoming identified potential barriers in a manner
that will ensure the safety of the distribution grid and the reliability of
service.
(f) Be developed by a
utility using a forecast of net distribution system load and distributed
resources. The forecast must be for a period of not less than 6 years,
beginning with the year after the distributed resources plan is filed. The net
distribution system load and distributed resources forecast will include
system, substation and feeder level net load projections and energy and demand
characteristics for all distributed resource types.
3. The distributed resources plan must
include:
(a) A grid needs assessment, which
must be based on the net distribution system load, distributed resource
forecast and the facilities capacity analysis. The grid needs assessment must
include, without limitation:
(1) The hosting
capacity analysis described by paragraph (b);
(2) An analysis of the suitability of
non-wires alternatives to mitigate identified transmission and distribution
system constraints;
(3) A locational
net benefit analysis to compare utility infrastructure upgrade solutions and
distributed resources solutions to forecasted transmission and distribution
system constraints; and
(4)
Recommendations for the deployment of utility infrastructure upgrade solutions
and non-wires alternative solutions to identified transmission and distribution
system constraints.
(b) A
hosting capacity analysis of the distribution system. The hosting capacity
analysis shall be performed using a load flow analysis and forecasted
distribution facilities and their capacity, configuration, loading and voltage
data gathered at the substation, feeder and primary node levels. The utility
shall perform scenario analyses to evaluate hosting capacity under normal
conditions and planned and unplanned contingency conditions. The utility shall
provide a detailed description of the methods and outcomes it used to perform
the hosting capacity analysis. The utility shall also provide a detailed
narrative describing the utility's progress towards providing
publically-available, real-time hosting capacity data.
(c) Recommendations for new cost-effective
distributed resources, sourcing of distributed resource solutions and utility
infrastructure upgrade solutions which have been determined to be the preferred
solution to constraints on a utility's electric grid on the basis of the
analysis in the grid needs assessment. Such recommendations must be based on
the locational net benefit analysis of resource options to utility
customers.
(d) A summary that
explains how distributed resources have affected the need for supply side
resources in the resource planning process. The summary shall include, without
limitation, a description of the effect of distributed resources on the need
for new generation and transmission resources and how distributed resources are
integrated into the transmission planning and supply side planning portions of
the resource planning process.
(e)
A summary that describes the results of an informal stakeholder process to
discuss recommendations for improvements to the hosting capacity analysis. The
informal stakeholder process shall occur not less than 120 days before the
filing of a distributed resources plan and be organized by the
utility.
(f) A technical appendix
that conforms to the requirements of NAC 704.922.
(g) A plan to accelerate transportation
electrification in this State that:
(1)
Complies with the requirements of NRS 704.7867; and
(2) Includes all financial impacts associated
with the plan and separately identifies the financial impacts of any proposed
financial incentives or special accounting treatment requested, including,
without limitation, a rate impact analysis that specifies the rate impact of
any such proposal on each rate class.
4. If the utility changes the methodology of
forecasting or the methodology used to conduct the hosting capacity analysis or
grid needs assessment from the methodology used in the previous resource plan
filed by the utility, the utility shall identify and provide a justification
for the change.
5. Unless otherwise
ordered by the Commission, in addition to, and separately from, the updates
required pursuant to NAC 704.9239, the utility shall, not less than once per
year, post publicly on its Internet website an update to the hosting capacity
analysis of the distribution system. The Internet website of the utility shall
contain a portal that provides maps and accessible electronic data suitable for
distribution to the public.
6. To
the extent that a plan to accelerate transportation electrification submitted
pursuant to paragraph (g) of subsection 3 includes programs in which customers
may participate, eligibility for participation by customers in such programs
must be offered by the utility on a nondiscriminatory basis to both bundled
retail customers and eligible customers, as defined in
NRS
704B.080, who purchase or plan to purchase
electricity from a provider of new electric resources, as defined in NRS
704B.130. Before eligible customers who purchase or plan to purchase
electricity from a provider of new electric resources may participate in such
programs, the utility shall request, and the Commission may approve, a
non-bypassable per kilowatt hour charge to fully pay for the participation of
eligible customers who purchase or plan to purchase electricity from a provider
of new electric resources.
Added to NAC by Pub.
Utilities Comm'n by R029-19, eff. 10-30-2019; A by
R005-22A,
eff. 9/16/2022
NRS
703.025,
704.210,
704.741,
704.7867
