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Utilities

Transformation at the heart of the energy transition

Supporting Growth and Progress to Net-Zero

Utilities are at the core of so much of the energy transition. Driven by unprecedented load growth, a need to decarbonize energy supply, growing uptake of emerging technologies and increased digitization, the role of utilities needs to evolve in response to changing demands on their systems.

Dunsky is recognized as an expert and a trusted, go-to advisor for leading utilities and system operators looking to understand and navigate the shifting technology, market, regulatory and policy landscapes.

Our Services

While there is growing consensus that getting to net-zero will require a significant increase in electricity demand, the nuances in the magnitude and pace of load growth varies between utilities and within a utility’s service territory.

With a focus on the impact of emerging loads (e.g. EVs, heat pumps), traditional load drivers and other emerging technologies, our team supports utilities of all shapes and sizes across North America in their efforts to develop tailored long-term demand forecasts that provide a holistic and nuanced system outlook that can inform their system planning efforts.

Our work includes:

  • Developing tailored demand forecasts with up to hourly (i.e., 8760) granularity and offering spatial granularity spanning from system-wide levels (e.g. state, province, or city), to individual postal codes, and everything in between (e.g., substations, transmission nodes, planning zones, specific distribution system assets, etc.).
  • Reviewing and providing actionable recommendations to modernize utility long-term demand forecasting, DER modeling and distribution planning efforts.
  • Conducting research and analysis to support developing forecasts of emerging load categories (e.g. industry electrification)
  • Reviewing existing load forecasting projections

Far from cookie-cutter, our forecasts leverage our suite of proprietary models and tools that employ the latest market intelligence, leading-edge industry practices, and advanced modeling techniques. We develop projections of technology adoption and their impacts on the grid while considering jurisdiction-specific characteristics (weather, market, policy, etc.) to deliver superior results.

We conduct comprehensive potential studies that assess the technical, economic and achievable potential for various DERs to support program and portfolio planning, DER forecasting, non-wire alternative (NWA) explorations and policy/regulatory initiatives.

Our potential studies cover traditional and novel technologies, including:

  • Energy efficiency (all fuels)
  • Load flexibility
  • Distributed generation (e.g. solar PV)
  • Energy storage
  • Heating electrification
  • Electric vehicles (EVs)

Our studies have withstood the highest level of scrutiny and build on a rich library of measures, comprehensive benefit-cost frameworks, nuanced adoption algorithms, nuanced consideration of interactive effects among DERs and an elaborate optimization engine all at scalable sectoral, geographic and temporal granularity that aligns with our clients’ needs.

We support system planners with conducting technical, economic and market assessments to support integrated resource planning, procurement and other system planning efforts.

Our work includes:

  • Technology and resource assessments
  • Forecasting the cost of new resources
  • Business case assessment for individual clean energy projects
  • Decarbonization / electrification planning
  • Capacity expansion modeling
  • Value of DERs assessment
  • Market analysis

We offer a wide array of strategic and regulatory support, drawing on a deep bench of experts with decades of experience in the sector. Our team regularly supports utility teams and senior leadership with their most complex decisions and challenges.

This includes:

  • Grid modernization, DER and beneficial electrification roadmaps
  • Rate design support (dynamic rates, EV rates, net-metering modernization)
  • Regulatory framework design
  • Corporate strategic planning support
  • Customer and go-to-market strategies
  • Regulatory proceeding support (e.g. drafting and reviewing intervenor interrogatories and evidence, testimony)
  • Stakeholder engagement and outreach strategies

Dunsky has supported program administrators with designing or redesigning dozens of energy efficiency, load flexibility, electric mobility and clean energy programs for nearly 20 years, and in so doing, we have addressed every program strategy, every sector and major market segment, every end-use and every clean energy source.

Our services include:

  • Portfolio planning
  • Program design
  • Impact and process evaluations
  • Rate and bill impact analysis
  • Strategic evaluations
  • Best practices review

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Featured Experts

Raegan Bond

Partner

Raegan brings a practical and highly personable approach to supporting clients’ goals. With management experience in the utility sector, Raegan brings a proven ability to understand and bridge perspectives among diverse stakeholders and to build common ground.

 

Contact Raegan