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Enhancing Grid Reliability through Emergency Demand Response Programs

Pietro Marconi, MS' 24 
Graduate Fellow 
California Public Utilities Commission

Pietro Marconi standing in front of the CPUC building

This summer, I am interning with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC regulates all investor-owned electric, natural gas, water, telecommunications, railroad, and passenger transportation companies in California. The CPUC has ~1200 employees, including 5 Commissioners, their legal advisors, and experts within the previously mentioned sectors. 

I joined the Office of Commissioner John Reynolds, which leads the review of the utilities’ demand response applications and proposed pilots, which seek to control demand response to meet the evolving complexities of electric grid needs. Regarding my summer project, I am looking into studying Demand Response (DR) programs, in particular the Base Interruptible Program (BIP). Emergency DR programs are essential for enhancing grid reliability during emergency events. Additionally, these programs help reduce load demand that could otherwise lead to power outages, while also offering financial benefits to customers. I am interested in learning how other states integrate emergency DR into their current energy, and capacity markets, as well as the type of payments that are provided to customers that enroll in these programs.

ISO/RTOs map
Figure 1 - This map shows where the ISO/RTOs (Independent System Operators/Regional Transmission Organizations) are located in the country. By the end of the summer, I hope I will be able to have a comprehensive understanding of the emergency DR programs offered by the jurisdictions highlighted in the figure.

During a typical day, I attend and prepare for team meetings within the Office of Commissioner John Reynolds, read resolutions, decisions, and public comments (mainly on DR), and draft summaries and/or presentations that can help me discuss my project with my Stanford mentor Dr. Naomi Boness (who I meet at least once a week). Additionally, I attend as many meetings as I can where various topics related to the energy sector are discussed, such as automated electric vehicles, equity, energy efficiency, and energy storage. Even though my internship is mainly remote, I was able to attend the first in-person voting meeting after COVID. I found that an extremely exciting experience since I got to meet all the advisors who I am working with as well as the other Stanford students who are interning with the CPUC!

During the process of studying DR and BIP documents, I’ve spent most of my time understanding and reading about energy and capacity markets which are extremely important for the reliability of the grid. The complexity of the electricity markets in deregulated states is what has fascinated me the most. By the end of the fellowship, I hope to fully understand what the best way is to incorporate emergency DR programs into the market. 

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