Section 704.9237 - Requirements and contents of distributed resources plan; identification and justification of certain changes of methodology; public posting of update to hosting capacity analysis1. The resource plan of a utility must contain a distributed resources plan for the 3 years covered by the action plan of the utility. The distributed resources plan of a utility must be consistent with the action plan of the utility.2. The distributed resources plan must: (a) Identify and evaluate the locational benefits and costs of distributed resources. The evaluation must be based on: (1) Reductions or increases in local generation capacity needs;(2) Avoided or increased localized investments in distribution infrastructure;(3) Reductions or increases in safety benefits of the electric grid;(4) Reductions or increases in the reliability benefits of the electric grid;(5) Any other localized savings that the distributed resources provide to the electric grid; and(6) Any other costs that distributed resources impose on customers of the electric utility or utilities.(b) As part of the distributed resources plan, the utility may propose tariffs, bilateral contracts, competitive solicitations or other mechanisms that it has identified and evaluated that maximize locational benefits and minimize the incremental cost of distributed resources.(c) Identify existing programs approved by the Commission that address the deployment of distributed resources, including, without limitation, tariffs and incentives, and propose cost-effective methods of effectively coordinating the deployment of distributed resources with such existing programs to maximize the locational benefits and minimize the incremental costs of distributed resources.(d) Identify and evaluate any incremental utility investment or expenditure necessary to integrate cost-effective distributed resources into the distribution planning process consistent with the goal of yielding a net benefit to the customers of the electric utility or utilities.(e) Identify and evaluate potential barriers to the deployment of distributed resources, including, without limitation, safety standards related to technology or operation of the distribution system and make recommendations regarding accepting or overcoming identified potential barriers in a manner that will ensure the safety of the distribution grid and the reliability of service.(f) Be developed by a utility using a forecast of net distribution system load and distributed resources. The forecast must be for a period of not less than 6 years, beginning with the year after the distributed resources plan is filed. The net distribution system load and distributed resources forecast will include system, substation and feeder level net load projections and energy and demand characteristics for all distributed resource types.3. The distributed resources plan must include:(a) A grid needs assessment, which must be based on the net distribution system load, distributed resource forecast and the facilities capacity analysis. The grid needs assessment must include, without limitation:(1) The hosting capacity analysis described by paragraph (b);(2) An analysis of the suitability of non-wires alternatives to mitigate identified transmission and distribution system constraints;(3) A locational net benefit analysis to compare utility infrastructure upgrade solutions and distributed resources solutions to forecasted transmission and distribution system constraints; and(4) Recommendations for the deployment of utility infrastructure upgrade solutions and non-wires alternative solutions to identified transmission and distribution system constraints.(b) A hosting capacity analysis of the distribution system. The hosting capacity analysis shall be performed using a load flow analysis and forecasted distribution facilities and their capacity, configuration, loading and voltage data gathered at the substation, feeder and primary node levels. The utility shall perform scenario analyses to evaluate hosting capacity under normal conditions and planned and unplanned contingency conditions. The utility shall provide a detailed description of the methods and outcomes it used to perform the hosting capacity analysis. The utility shall also provide a detailed narrative describing the utility's progress towards providing publically-available, real-time hosting capacity data.(c) Recommendations for new cost-effective distributed resources, sourcing of distributed resource solutions and utility infrastructure upgrade solutions which have been determined to be the preferred solution to constraints on a utility's electric grid on the basis of the analysis in the grid needs assessment. Such recommendations must be based on the locational net benefit analysis of resource options to utility customers.(d) A summary that explains how distributed resources have affected the need for supply side resources in the resource planning process. The summary shall include, without limitation, a description of the effect of distributed resources on the need for new generation and transmission resources and how distributed resources are integrated into the transmission planning and supply side planning portions of the resource planning process.(e) A summary that describes the results of an informal stakeholder process to discuss recommendations for improvements to the hosting capacity analysis. The informal stakeholder process shall occur not less than 120 days before the filing of a distributed resources plan and be organized by the utility.(f) A technical appendix that conforms to the requirements of NAC 704.922.(g) A plan to accelerate transportation electrification in this State that:(1) Complies with the requirements of NRS 704.7867; and(2) Includes all financial impacts associated with the plan and separately identifies the financial impacts of any proposed financial incentives or special accounting treatment requested, including, without limitation, a rate impact analysis that specifies the rate impact of any such proposal on each rate class.4. If the utility changes the methodology of forecasting or the methodology used to conduct the hosting capacity analysis or grid needs assessment from the methodology used in the previous resource plan filed by the utility, the utility shall identify and provide a justification for the change.5. Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, in addition to, and separately from, the updates required pursuant to NAC 704.9239, the utility shall, not less than once per year, post publicly on its Internet website an update to the hosting capacity analysis of the distribution system. The Internet website of the utility shall contain a portal that provides maps and accessible electronic data suitable for distribution to the public.6. To the extent that a plan to accelerate transportation electrification submitted pursuant to paragraph (g) of subsection 3 includes programs in which customers may participate, eligibility for participation by customers in such programs must be offered by the utility on a nondiscriminatory basis to both bundled retail customers and eligible customers, as defined in NRS 704B.080, who purchase or plan to purchase electricity from a provider of new electric resources, as defined in NRS 704B.130. Before eligible customers who purchase or plan to purchase electricity from a provider of new electric resources may participate in such programs, the utility shall request, and the Commission may approve, a non-bypassable per kilowatt hour charge to fully pay for the participation of eligible customers who purchase or plan to purchase electricity from a provider of new electric resources.Nev. Admin. Code § 704.9237
Added to NAC by Pub. Utilities Comm'n by R029-19, eff. 10-30-2019; A by R005-22A, eff. 9/16/2022NRS 703.025, 704.210, 704.741, 704.7867