Powering Through Uncertainty: A Resource Adequacy Toolkit for Western Regulators

The report identifies four primary drivers of resource adequacy risk in the Western United States: load growth uncertainties, extreme weather and climate change, delays in planned resource builds, and slow transmission expansion. To mitigate these risks, it proposes ten specific options for regulators categorized into three strategies: improving planning practices, widening the suite of resource adequacy solutions, and reforming utility business models.

• Regulators in the Western United States face four primary drivers of resource adequacy risk: uncertainties regarding load growth, the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, delays in the construction of planned resources, and the slow expansion of transmission infrastructure.
• To reduce the risk of future electricity shortfalls while transitioning to a low-carbon grid, regulators can employ three main strategies: improving planning practices, expanding the range of resource adequacy solutions, and reforming utility business models.
• The report outlines ten specific options for regulators to implement across its three proposed strategies, drawing on numerous real-world examples from the Western United States.

APA

RMI (2024). Powering Through Uncertainty: A Resource Adequacy Toolkit for Western Regulators. https://rmi.org/resources/powering-through-uncertainty-a-resource-adequacy-toolkit-for-western-regulators/

Chicago

RMI. Powering Through Uncertainty: A Resource Adequacy Toolkit for Western Regulators. 2024. https://rmi.org/resources/powering-through-uncertainty-a-resource-adequacy-toolkit-for-western-regulators/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Powering Through Uncertainty: A Resource Adequacy Toolkit for Western Regulators |date=11 November 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/powering-through-uncertainty-a-resource-adequacy-toolkit-for-western-regulators/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2024powering, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Powering Through Uncertainty: A Resource Adequacy Toolkit for Western Regulators}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/powering-through-uncertainty-a-resource-adequacy-toolkit-for-western-regulators/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }