Grid Utilization
Updated: Oct 8
Utilities Don’t know how to utilize the grid? Or is grid utilization more nuanced than hyped up?
Industry is desperate to connect large loads (i.e., data centers), turning over every stone to find grid capacity. In this pursuit, they are deploying novel legislative tools and passing laws to force change in utilities' behavior. The whole premise rests on the belief that utilities are hiding something and are highly inefficient. While we can’t say for sure, at the very least we know that utilities are not incompetent grid operators! In fact, challenging utilities on complex technical and operational issues such as grid utilization without deep technical understanding is risky. Using basic economic analysis confuses the issue, creates false expectations for politicians and advocates, and may ultimately backfire by delegitimizing utilities' investment in the traditional grid, making necessary upgrades more difficult.
Read our thought leadership to learn more about what Grid Utilization really is and is not.
