Grid-forming inverter-based resources and modeling and simulation tools are required for studying them.

Provides the microgrid conceptual design methodology—system characterization and goal definition, identifying policy and regulatory constraints, defining the design basis threats, and identifying critical loads and infrastructure.

This technical report, authored by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), provides system-level specifications for a federated architecture designed to securely and efficiently manage grid edge resources. The Federated Architecture for Secure and Transactive (FAST)-DERMS framework aims to aggregate and coordinate grid edge resource operations to support both transmission and distribution grid services, ensuring System reliability and safety.

Technologies for monitoring and control of grid edge resources through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.

PNM's Grid Modernization Plan includes a description of how systems such as ADMS, Outage Management System, Geographic Information System, and DERMS and supporting communications technologies could be deployed to enable the utility's grid modernization objectives.

Describes how Hawaiian Electric uses a suite of modeling tools to identify near-term quantity and timing of grid needs and evaluate potential solutions.

The IEEE 2030.11 standard provides a functional specification for a DERMS and a description of the grid services that aggregations of grid edge resources.

A utility-filed document in a Missouri Public Service Commission working case, detailing how retail rules and utility practices may need to adapt for grid edge resource aggregations. Ameren Missouri’s response emphasizes validation and compliance checks at the distribution level before grid edge resources can participate in wholesale markets. It raises consumer protection issues (e.g., requiring grid edge resource aggregators to register with the state and adhere to marketing standards to prevent fraud) . It discusses the need for enhanced metering and telemetry so that when a customer’s behind-the-meter resource provides wholesale services, the utility can measure those injections separately—ensuring retail billing credits (like net metering) and wholesale payments don’t overlap or double count the same energy . The filing also notes potential distribution infrastructure upgrades and operating procedures to maintain safety/reliability with aggregated grid edge resource dispatch (for instance, communication protocols for outage coordination and mechanisms for the utility to override or constrain aggregator dispatch for local grid safety). Overall, it outlines how the PSC should develop rules on interconnection, data sharing, dual participation, and dispute resolution between aggregators and utilities.

Provide a detailed process manual for data sharing and control in aggregated grid edge resource programs. This handbook describes the end-to-end requirements that a grid edge resource aggregator (“Supplier”) must follow to exchange data with Hawaiian Electric’s systems . It covers how participant enrollment data, meter data, forecasts, and event signals are transmitted via a secure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) portal, file structures for data reporting, and testing procedures to onboard aggregators. Critically, it also delineates data protection rules—for instance, the utility will not share any individual customer data with the aggregator except as necessary to resolve enrollment issues , thereby safeguarding customer privacy.

Provide recommended practices for TPs and PCs to establish effective modeling data and verification requirements for aggregate Grid Edge Resource models. This ensures accurate representation of grid edge resources in planning assessments, facilitating reliable integration into the bulk power system.

This report introduces 11 cybersecurity “building blocks” for electric utilities, especially those with growing grid edge resource adoption. It outlines practical, modular guidance for developing cybersecurity programs spanning governance, risk, technical controls, incident response, and more. Includes diagrams and toolkits like DER-Cyber Framework and references tailored for under-resourced utilities.

Provides a detailed analysis of the potential benefits (“locational value”) of aggregated grid edge resources on distribution systems and methodologies to quantify those benefits. The report describes approaches and tools for calculating grid edge resource value in specific locations and includes 24 case studies illustrating how different U.S. utilities and states evaluate grid edge resources as alternatives to infrastructure investments . This technical report is intended to inform utility planning and regulatory decisions by showing where and how grid edge resource aggregations can defer or avoid conventional grid investments.

This is a DOE-sponsored report (published July 2020) that explains methods for net load baselining and performance evaluation of building-sited grid edge resources, both individually and in aggregation. It outlines how utilities and program operators establish a baseline (counterfactual reference load) for a customer or aggregation and measure actual grid edge resources performance (load reductions or injections) against that baseline .

NWA Opportunity Evaluation Methodology

This case study describes the planning, design, development, testing, and validation of a microgrid control system (MCS) implemented for Avista's shared energy economy project. The MCS integrates protection, automation, and control schemes along with energy storage management and load-generation dispatch strategies. The study provides insights into the design considerations and challenges encountered in developing a state-of-the-art microgrid controller capable of managing complex energy resources and ensuring system reliability.

The IEEE 2030.8 standard introduces a set of testing procedures for the verification, quantification, and comparison of performance of microgrid controllers.

The IEEE 2030.7 standard specifies the functional requirements and architecture for microgrid controllers.

This is a technical guidance report for the Arkansas Public Service Commission detailing how to establish a regulatory framework to oversee third-party grid edge resource aggregators at the grid edge . It covers implementation details such as aggregator certification requirements, performance metrics, and especially consumer protection measures. For example, it proposes a “code of conduct” for utilities engaging with affiliate aggregators and a commission oversight regime that includes compliance plans, audits, and explicit complaint procedures and logs for customer issues . The report spells out how the PSC can handle customer data sharing, require transparent marketing and truthful performance claims, and adjudicate customer complaints about aggregators’ services . An appendix provides draft model rules for aggregator registration, ensuring only financially and technically capable entities with consumer safeguards can operate.

This report discusses the technical considerations for integrating grid edge resources into the bulk power system. It addresses the importance of communication capabilities, standardized interconnection agreements, and the adoption of advanced inverter functionalities as specified in IEEE 1547-2018. The document provides guidance on verifying grid edge resource technical characteristics and capabilities during the registration process to maintain grid reliability.

An abbreviated guide (case study) created “by utilities for the electric power industry” to help utilities effectively implement the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NSIT) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF). It provides nine recommended steps with key tasks, outputs, and real-world examples for building a sustainable cybersecurity risk management program aligned with NIST CSF and Cybersecurity Capability Maturity Model . The goal is to show one approach that electric utilities can use to improve their cyber resilience by leveraging these frameworks, with practical insights from utility practitioners.