Beyond the Baseline: A Framework for Measuring Realized Resilience in Electric Utilities
Research

Beyond the Baseline: A Framework for Measuring Realized Resilience in Electric Utilities

  • Clarifies why current reliability metrics miss the true impacts of extreme weather.
  • Introduces practical metrics to measure both multi-year grid resistance and post-event recovery.
  • Enables utilities and regulators to demonstrate real, measurable resilience benefits from investments.

Beyond the Baseline: A Framework for Measuring Realized Resilience in Electric Utilities is a policy guidance paper that introduces a resilience metrics framework building on existing industry guidance. The framework proposes two simple measures that reflect a utility’s performance during major extreme weather events. The first is resistance, tracking multi-year ‘all-in’ outages per customer to show how utility investments can prevent outages from extreme weather events. The second focuses on restoration, measuring the time it takes for the electric utility to restore 95% of its customers after a major event. Together, these metrics help utilities and regulators prioritize investments that best prevent outages, improve recovery, and maintain affordable electricity for customers.

Authors
Michael Levy, Partner, US Utilities Lead, Baringa
Will Supple, Senior Manager, Asset Resilience, Baringa
Jared Leader, Senior Director, Resilience, Smart Electric Power Alliance

Beyond the Baseline: A Framework for Measuring Realized Resilience in Electric Utilities