Growing demand for electricity in buildings is creating new opportunities and challenges for electric and natural gas planning. Planning processes for the electric and gas systems are largely separate, and only a few jurisdictions have started to examine how they could link these two processes.
This report, published by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, explores the current state of electric and gas system planning, and the benefits and challenges of integrating these processes.
An integrated electric and gas distribution planning process displays the following characteristics:
- Improved organization, communications and collaboration.
- Aligned inputs for forecasting and modeling.
- Reformed analytical structure.
- Sufficient outputs for procurements, programs and other processes.
The authors identify indicators of progress toward each of these characteristics and offer options for reforms that jurisdictions can implement as they pursue greater integration.
