Deep Dive technical assistance opportunity for PUCs and SEOs is now available

November 1, 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is announcing the latest opportunity for state public utility commissions (PUCs) and state energy offices (SEOs) to receive extended duration, high impact technical assistance. The Resources and Assistance for State Energy Offices and Regulators program will begin accepting applications for Deep Dive technical assistance requests on November 1st, 2024 which will connect PUCs and SEOs with subject matter experts (SME) from Berkeley Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory regarding electricity related issues that will take considerable time and effort to address. The deadline for application submissions is December 31st, 2024. Awardees will be notified by the end of March or early April of 2025.

Although this technical assistance opportunity can provide support on virtually any electricity-related issue, it is especially focused on addressing the following key topics:

  • Integrated Grid Planning & End-Use Technology Integration
  • Regional Coordination with Bulk Power System Operators (e.g., compliance filings with FERC on Order 1920)
  • Planning for End-Use Adoption (e.g., DERs – EVs, buildings & industry, PV, energy storage) & Load Forecasting (e.g., data centers and other large industrial loads)
  • Electric Infrastructure Expansion (e.g., Behind-the-meter, Distribution, or Bulk Power Systems)
  • End-Use, Distribution, and Bulk-Power Operation
  • System Visibility, Control, and Communications
  • Institutional Roles and Responsibilities (e.g., Aggregator vs. Distribution Utility vs. DSO)
  • End-use Device Integration & Flexibility (e.g., Codes, Standards, and Best Practices)
  • Electricity Markets & Compensation
  • Enabling Flexible End-use Technology Participation in Electricity Markets (e.g., EV Managed Charging, Building Demand Response, Behind-the-Meter Storage, etc.)
  • Evolving Retail and Wholesale Services, Participation Models, and Participant Compensation
  • Resource Adequacy, Reliability, and Resilience
  • Resource Adequacy in the Energy Transition
  • Reliability in a Predominately Inverter-Based Resource Environment
  • Impacts of Extreme Weather Given Increased Electrification

Examples of Deep Dive technical assistance requests include:     

  • Evaluate the consideration of electric vehicles and the value of vehicle-to-grid applications in future planning activities, specifically as it relates to distribution system planning;
  • Evaluate a technical analysis associated with FERC Order 1920 (e.g., transmission planning study, technical approach to ensuring compliance) and translate it into understandable terms, and identify the tradeoffs associated with key analytic approaches and assumptions.
  • Support the development of a draft framework for incorporating equity implications into utility-scale renewable energy (RE) procurement processes; and

A short five-minute overview video of this Deep Dive technical assistance opportunity can be found here.

Two public webinars will be held to provide details about the program and the application process as well as to answer any questions potential applicants may have.

  • The first webinar will occur on November 14th at 2 PM EST focusing on the unique needs of state energy offices. Register for this webinar here.
  • The second will occur on November 22nd at 3 PM EST focusing on the unique needs of state public utility commissions. Register for this webinar here.

To submit your Deep Dive technical assistance request, your organization will need to complete the online application form. However, to help your organization develop the necessary responses to the questions in the online application form, a downloadable editable PDF version of the application form is available. All forms can also be found at https://statetaprogram.lbl.gov/.

To further support potential applicants, there will be a series of virtual office hours attended by the National Lab team managing this program. Sign up here for a 30-minute slot during one of the available dates:

  • November 18th 1:00PM-3:00PM EST
  • November 25th 1:30PM-3:30PM EST
  • December 4th 12:00PM-2:00PM EST
  • December 12th 11:00AM-1:00PM EST
  • December 17th 2:00PM-4:00PM EST
  • January 8th 4:00PM-6:00PM EST
  • January 17th 1:00PM-3:00PM EST

Once you reserve your slot, you will receive a calendar invite with teleconference credentials to access the office hours at that time.

Any additional inquiries about the State TA Program more generally and the process for receiving TA can also be directed to the program’s dedicated email account [email protected] or to any of the National Laboratory contacts listed below:

Berkeley Lab
Peter Cappers | [email protected] | (315) 637-0513
Jason Ball | [email protected] | (510) 384-8404

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Juliet Homer | [email protected] | (509) 375-2698
Jessica Shipley | [email protected] | (509) 371-7540

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Sherry Stout | [email protected] | (303) 275-4281
Michael Ingram | [email protected] | (303) 275-3231

Argonne National Laboratory
Todd Levin | [email protected] | (630) 252-6878
Joann Zhou | [email protected] | (630) 252-1215

This program is offered in partnership with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO).