Pilot Projects
| PILOT | PURPOSE OF THE PILOT | IS THE PILOT ACTIVE (PENDING, YES OR NO) | TIMELINE FOR THE PILOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-Varying Rate Pilot | To evaluate the effectiveness of time-of-use rate structures, customer incentives, and targeted communications across two winter and summer seasons using a statistically significant sample of residential and commercial electric customers. The analysis will measure customer load-shifting behaviors in response to price signals and communications, quantifying both individual response patterns and aggregate grid impacts. | YES | October 2023 – September 2025 |
| Distributional Equity Analysis Pilot | To develop a methodology evaluating the distributional equity of distributed energy resources (DERs). PSE worked with Lawrence Berkley National Labs (LBNL), to pilot methods and standards for a pilot distributional equity assessment (DEA). The methodology was applied to community solar projects in Olympia and within Nooksack Tribal Land modelling retrospective and prospective approaches. LBNL then published the methodology in May 2024 via the U.S. Department of Energy. The publication is titled: Distributional Equity Analysis for Energy Efficiency and other Distributed Energy Resources ~ A Practical Guide. It is available as a reference for other utilities, organizations, and jurisdictions to reference for further DEA applications. The guide is available here: DEA Practical Guide Link | NO | December 2022 - July 2024 |
| Targeted Electrification Pilot | To gain more market experience with targeted electrification programs, with offerings ranging from low-income home upgrades, deploying heat pumps in a constrained area on the gas system, continued focus on small business and multi-family segments, and supporting customer projects at commercial and/or industrial sites. | YES | April 2025 – December 2026 |
| Distributed Energy Resource Public Engagement Pilot | To gain experience with and understanding of engaging named community members at the “empowerment” level on the International Association for Public Participation’s Public Participation Spectrum in developing DER offerings specifically for Named Communities. | YES | September 2023 – July 2025 |
| Conjunctive Demand Service Option Pilot | Will allow certain eligible customers served at multiple locations to aggregate their billed demands for purposes of billing for the recovery of power and transmission costs. Approved terms and conditions are contained with electric tariff Schedules 26 and 31. | YES | Service became available June 30, 2021. There is no specific end date, but initially proposed to last at least five years. |
Pursuant to Paragraphs 367 and 591 of the Commission’s Final Order 09/07 issued in Docket UE-240004 et.al, PSE is posting information related to pilots. Specifically, the Commission directed PSE to post information regarding its (i) Time-Varying Rate Pilot, (ii) Distributional Equity Analysis Pilot, (iii) Targeted Electrification pilot, and (iv) Distributed Energy Resource Public Engagement Pilot. The Commission limited the information to be posted to the following:
- Whether a pilot is active;
- The purpose of the pilot; and
- The pilot’s timeline.