City project
Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan
Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan to improve community electric reliability and resiliency through utility operations, grid investment, flexible-energy technologies, and efficient electrification.
- Current status
- Staff reported that local utility-scale long-duration storage/microgrids remain not cost-effective relative to benefits.
- Location
- Palo Alto, CA
September 2, 2026 long-duration resiliency status update
Staff reported that a 4-megawatt, four-hour battery could serve roughly 300 single-family homes for 24 hours, at an estimated battery-only cost of $5.4 million, declining to about $2.4 million by 2035. Recharging would require local generation; staff estimated roughly 20 acres of solar and $12 million to $15 million for a corresponding solar installation. Staff will monitor costs, incorporate hazard-mitigation considerations into capital improvement plans, and revisit local renewable and storage options in the Integrated Resource Plan work beginning mid-to-late 2027.
Read related coverageMarch 2, 2026 implementation status update
Staff reported that the grid-modernization pilot area had concluded and that future investment would prioritize safety and reliability projects, substation rebuilds, and capacity where customers are electrifying. Staff reported a 14% vacancy rate, foothills-area undergrounding expected by summer 2026, and possible advancement of the Ames 115 transmission line to 2030 from 2034. Staff recommended reliability goals based on top-quartile American Public Power Association performance and outperforming PG&E's De Anza division.
Read related coverageFebruary 5, 2025 study update
Staff reported that Council approved the plan in April 2024. Bureau Happold is conducting supply, resilience, implementation-cost, and program-development work; E3 is analyzing distribution benefits; and a separate airport microgrid study is evaluating solar, storage, and neighborhood-scale microgrids. Staff expects initial program feedback in April or May and final Commission and Council consideration in fall 2025.
Read related coverageSeptember 4, 2024 implementation and consultant-scope update
Staff described two consulting engagements: one to assess costs and benefits, barriers, and potential programs for flexible energy technologies and electrification strategies; another, grant-funded engagement to model the electric distribution system and assess capacity and avoided investment from distributed energy and flexible technologies. Discussion focused on consultant scoping, internally developed reliability metrics, and evaluation of technologies including microgrids, solar and storage, vehicle-to-home, and utility-scale storage. Commission feedback emphasized quantitative benefit-cost analysis, including outage frequency, duration, affected customers, energy-supply benefits, distribution benefits, and the value of lost load. Staff stated that no technology outcome is predetermined.
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