Non-Wires Alternatives (NWA) – Incorporating NWAs into Your Grid Modernization Program

Part One of the Grid Modernization Briefing Series

What’s in the brief?

There is a major paradigm shift occurring in the electric power industry around system planning driven largely by grid modernization and the proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs). This paper outlines best practices for utilities and regulators for enabling a stakeholder-informed system planning process necessary to accommodate non-wires alternatives (NWAs) using DERs. SEPA’s experts have laid out an NWA planning approach that will establish a market for customers and third parties to work alongside the utility to integrate DERs onto the grid without sacrificing system safety, affordability and reliability. Download the report to learn more about this approach.

SEPA Grid Modernization Framework

The SEPA grid modernization framework is an industry wide view of technology, policy, customer, and business model concepts that regulators and utilities should consider as part of grid modernization planning.  Constructed as a four part series, each brief explores SEPA’s lessons learned and recommended approaches around key topics impacting grid modernization. The four part series includes:

Part 1: “Non-Wires Alternatives – Incorporating NWAs into Your Grid Modernization Program”

Part 2: “Customer Impact – Keeping Customers at the Center of Grid Modernization”

Part 3: “Microgrids – The Role of Microgrids in the Regulatory Compact”

Part 4: “Pilot Projects – How to Establish a Successful Grid Modernization Pilot Project Program”