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The report introduces the 'electricity system value chain' framework, designed to help technology providers and system designers identify and capture value within the complex, non-linear network of the modern electricity grid. It moves beyond linear value chains to a system-based approach that integrates electrical, communications, and organizational layers to align compensation with the actual value provided by emerging technologies, such as distributed energy resources.

This whitepaper, part of America’s Power Plan, examines how distributed energy resources (DERs), described as 'the internet of electricity,' shift the electricity sector away from a traditional centralized structure and proposes three policy options to accelerate a renewable electricity future.

This executive summary from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines the need for new business models for distributed solar photovoltaics (DPV) in the United States to move beyond customer-centric value toward system-wide optimization. It proposes three 'bridge' building blocks—increased access, treating DPV as a grid resource, and technology bundling—to align the interests of utilities, solar companies, and customers while transitioning toward broader regulatory reform.

This RMI research paper argues that traditional bundled, volumetric electricity rates are inadequate for a grid with increasing distributed energy resources (DERs). It proposes a transition toward more sophisticated pricing across three dimensions: attribute unbundling, temporal granularity (e.g., real-time pricing), and locational granularity (e.g., 'hot spot' credits). The authors recommend a staged implementation using default and opt-in rates, supported by third-party technologies to maintain a simple customer experience, and call for greater data transparency and improved valuation methodologies for regulators.

This summary report details a September 2013 briefing in St. Paul, Minnesota, regarding 'America’s Power Plan' (APP), a policy roadmap for achieving a high-renewables energy future. The document outlines the regional context of the Midwest, discusses the need for new utility business and regulatory models to accommodate distributed energy resources (DERs), and highlights Xcel Energy's experience in integrating variable wind power.

This report, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in September 2013, reviews 16 benefit and cost studies of distributed photovoltaics (DPV) conducted between 2005 and 2013. It aims to establish a foundation for valuing distributed energy resources (DERs) by identifying methodological best practices and gaps in how the electricity sector quantifies the costs and benefits of DPV.

This report details the findings and recommendations from a two-day workshop conducted by the Electricity Innovation Lab (e-Lab) and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest (NAVFAC Southwest) in April 2013. The document examines the technical, economic, and regulatory challenges of implementing microgrids on U.S. Navy bases to improve energy security and integrate renewable energy.

This report summarizes a two-day charrette held in November 2012 to address challenges in planning, investment, and execution of energy efficiency and renewable energy for Fort Collins Utilities and the FortZED net zero energy district project.

This research paper by RMI explores the transition of the U.S. electricity sector from a traditional value chain to a 'value constellation' at the distribution edge. It examines how the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) challenges existing utility business models and proposes new regulatory and economic frameworks to better integrate these resources for improved system efficiency, resilience, and reliability.

The Electricity Distribution Grid Evaluator (EDGE) is a MATLAB-based simulation tool developed by RMI to assess the technical and economic implications of integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into electricity systems. The model evaluates how DERs affect grid operations and stakeholder value across different regulatory environments and utility business models.

This report, produced by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) for PG&E, examines the impact of distributed energy resources (DERs) and Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings on California's electricity system. It identifies misalignments between current utility business models and the shift toward decentralized generation, proposing a transition toward new pricing structures and regulatory frameworks to ensure grid stability and cost equity.

This statement by Ken Wicker and Karl R. Rábago of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues against the increased use of coal for electricity generation in Colorado, advocating instead for a diversified energy portfolio centered on energy efficiency and clean renewable resources.

This research paper proposes a flexible framework for electricity policy in a hypothetical "51st State," focusing on system optimization across affordability, reliability, and environmental performance. It outlines modernized principles for rate design and market structure that accommodate the rise of distributed energy resources (DERs) and smart-grid technologies, arguing that these innovations challenge the traditional view of utilities as natural monopolies.

This technical appendix from RMI provides a detailed overview of thirteen services that battery energy storage can provide to customers, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and utilities. It categorizes these services by stakeholder benefit and time scale, providing definitions, technical backgrounds, and estimated value ranges for each. The document also details the valuation and dispatch methodologies used in four specific use cases across the U.S. and includes a meta-study of six influential energy storage valuation publications from the past decade.