Utilize Coalition

America needs more power, more affordably. The time for greater grid utilization is now.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

Read the full filing here: https://t.co/FMO8oKAuQL

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

🚨Virginia's grid utilization metrics are live!🚨

41% and 33%.

Those are the grid utilization metrics that @DominionEnergy just filed for distribution and transmission with the @VAStateCorpComm.

This is a big moment for the energy industry: it’s the first time a U.S. utility has filed a comprehensive grid utilization metrics proposal under a state law.

Congratulations to Dominion Energy for a thoughtful and serious proposal that helps start this conversation across the industry. We agree with their assessment that “system-level results may obscure localized differences among feeders, substations, and geographic areas,” and we see value in providing more granular data.

These average annual metrics may seem low, but utilization is of course much higher at peak (Dominion reported 78.3% “transformer general utilization at local peaks,” for instance). That’s the core point of our recent Beyond Peak white paper: during off-peak hours, there’s significant capacity on the existing grid that can be unlocked through greater flexibility.

Link to Dominion’s full filing in the thread.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

There are good reasons why we built the grid the way we did. But we now have technologies that didn’t exist or weren’t mature 5–10 years ago: battery storage, automated demand response, advanced transmission technologies, large load flexibility, and more. These solutions stand ready to help us get more out of the grid we already have.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

At Utilize, we see these initial metrics as an exciting opportunity for Virginia to lean into building a more flexible grid — one that improves utilization over time, connects new loads faster, and puts downward pressure on electricity costs for all Virginians. That vision aligns well with the @GovernorVA's new state energy plan.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

@_LatitudeMedia @rtoinsider @UtilityDive https://t.co/xtk67eXPRx

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

Last week, we released a new paper on how to measure grid utilization. It was covered by @_LatitudeMedia @rtoinsider @UtilityDive. Read the full paper here: https://t.co/B8pIXtFtL9

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

@_LatitudeMedia @rtoinsider @UtilityDive https://t.co/oIoOb1hvjE

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

https://t.co/pVusshdKt7

[Rob Gramlich @RobGramlichDC]

Conditional firm service! Maybe its time has finally come! Appreciate the leadership here. Great way to expand utilization.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

Our statement on today's historic #FERC actions on large load interconnection -- prioritizing flexibility, speed to power, and getting more out of the grid we have.

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

FERC Commissioner Chang on ATTs: "It is critical that we move these out of the pilot stage"

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

"The cheapest transmission line is the one that already exists” -- @RosnerFERC at today's FERC Open Meeting on large load interconnection

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

Unlike Virginia, in Maryland it was Republicans who introduced grid utilization and Democrats agreed. New op-ed from @IanMagruder and Molly Knoll on the MD breakthrough this week: https://t.co/5hqomPMI98

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

New Volts podcast episode on grid utilization with @ianmagruder and @drvolts: https://t.co/WxOtbMhvIQ

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

Watch the full clip: https://t.co/vOm03WxiP4

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

U.S. Energy @SecretaryWright on grid utilization:
"The states that have done the best on electricity prices, all of them have fast demand growth. The faster your demand growth is, the more you can push your electricity prices down. And another reason for this, it's just more efficient use of assets. Our electricity grid today, as we sit here, it only operates at about 50% capacity. So today, we've got hundreds of gigawatts of spare power right now."

[Tyler Norris @tylerhnorris]

Good to see @utilizegrid already shaping the dialogue w/ analysis via @TheBrattleGroup, with thx to @Stphn_Lacey for teeing it up https://t.co/UcM0UXladm

[Sundar Pichai @sundarpichai]

Google is now the first cloud provider to integrate 1 GW of flexible demand into long-term utility contracts. Our ability to shift or reduce our energy demand when it’s needed can help utility companies balance supply/ demand and plan for future capacity needs.

This is a big milestone for responsible data center growth and helps keep costs lower for local communities.

https://t.co/yagskz6Wq7

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

@FastCompany on grid utilization: "If new electric demand can be added without a major new investment in infrastructure—and more customers are actually sharing the same fixed costs—the cost of electricity can go down for everyone."

Full story: https://t.co/y89Mp55hHm

[Utilize Coalition @utilizegrid]

New independent research from @BrattleGroup, out today: the U.S. grid runs at ~50% capacity. Rates are up 5.6%/year since 2020. A 10% increase in grid utilization could save American consumers $110–170B over the next decade.

Read it: https://t.co/doM9npdyjC

#TheUntappedGrid #UtilizeCoalition