Skip to main content
City of Palo Alto sealPalo Alto Civic

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
Consulting analysis scope under Commission review.
Location
Palo Alto, CA
Street view near Palo Alto, CA
Map of Palo Alto, CA

  1. March 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 coverage

  2. February 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 coverage

  3. September 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.

    Read related coverage

Comments

You may comment anonymously.