As energy affordability continues to be a top concern for millions of Americans, utilities, policymakers, and regulators seek fast, cost-effective solutions. We are sharing Brattle’s new report, which highlights how effective use of the existing power system could save US consumers more than $100 billion over the next decade.

The report, The Untapped Grid: How Better Utilization of the Power System Can Improve Energy Affordability, explains that by strategically adding new electricity demand during times and in locations where the grid has available capacity – and by using flexibility, efficiency, and new operational strategies to reduce peak demand – electric utilities could lower costs for consumers while supporting economic growth.

The study estimates that all else equal, improving system utilization by 10% could reduce electricity rates by roughly 3.4% relative to current levels, absent other changes. Key findings include:

·    Improved grid utilization could deliver major consumer savings. Scaling the study’s utility-level results to national forecasts of load growth indicates that US electricity bills could be reduced by $110–$170 billion over the next decade.

·    A broad suite of technologies, policies, and operational strategies can increase system headroom. Examples include distributed energy resources, storage, grid-enhancing technologies, demand flexibility, energy efficiency, improved rate design, flexible interconnection policy, and enhanced system planning.

·    Load growth can benefit both consumers and utilities. With a system utilization focus, utilities can grow earnings relative to current levels while directing investment to the most critical infrastructure projects.

·    Better utilization can accelerate economic growth. More efficient use of the grid can help large new electricity users – such as data centers and advanced manufacturing – accelerate interconnection to the grid by several years.

The study was authored by Brattle Principal Ryan Hledik, Managing Energy Associate Long Lam, and Energy Associate Kate Peters, and commissioned by the newly formed Utilize Coalition – which includes Google, Tesla, Carrier, Renew Home, SPAN, Sparkfund, and Verrus – and GridLab.

CLICK HERE to download the report.