Distributed Energy Resources (DER) impact on Energy & Utilities Market

Distributed energy resources (DER) are a general term for small, grid-connected or distribution system-connected devices that generate and store electricity. Consumers can now sell power back to the grid or receive payment from utilities to reduce their consumption or use stored energy during periods when the grid’s capacity is stressed thanks to rooftop solar (PV), electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and microgrids.

Conventional power plants, such as coal-fired, gas-fired, and nuclear-powered plants, as well as hydroelectric dams and large-scale solar power plants, are centralized and frequently require electric energy to be transmitted over long distances.

DER systems increasingly play a crucial role in the distribution of electric power and typically use renewable energy sources like small hydro, biomass, biogas, solar, wind, and geothermal energy.

A grid-connected device for electricity storage is also a DER system and is commonly referred to as a distributed energy storage system (DESS).

Microgrids, as opposed to the traditional, centralized electricity grid, are modern, localized, small-scale grids. Microgrids can operate independently of the centralized grid, increasing grid resilience and helping to mitigate grid disturbances.

Grid operators are concerned about DERs because they are concerned about the impact of customer defection. However, if utilities and customers are on the same page, DERs can benefit both the utility and the consumer by:

Due to the current economic climate, the Energy & Utilities sector faces numerous difficulties. The ability to work remotely, changing regulations and technology, and on-going industry effects are a few of these challenges.

Customer Expectations and Value

• How do I keep up?
• How do I personalize to my vastly diverse customer base?
• How do I meet them where they want to be and anticipate their needs?
• How do I provide true value to my customers?

Digital First, Work from Anywhere in Real-time

• How do I provide a digital-first experience for my customers and employees, connecting them from anywhere?
• Can I be agile enough?
• Can I generate insights and enable actions in real-time that are valuable to my customers and that support our business objectives?

Disruptive Regulatory and Technology Changes

• What will markets look like post-competition, with new distributed, democratized, and decarbonized energy programs?
• How do I use Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices, meters, and VPPs/networks for the grid, customer, and business value?
• What is our place in new energy market models?

Additional Continuing Industry Impacts

• Competitive and transitioning market uncertainty
• Margin pressure in competitive markets
• Capitalization of cloud
• Inflexible and aging CIS and billing systems
• Increasing data volumes and security requirements
• An aging workforce
• Mergers and acquisition activity
• COVID-19 impacts
• Energy and financial market volatility

Vertically integrated utility companies have a wide range of significant business units and related capabilities. Not all utility companies have them. Many of the potential business units are represented in the below list.

Marketing Management	Sales Management	Service Management	Field Service Management	Billing Management	Human Resource Management	Portfolio and Project Management	Legal and Policy Management	Information Technology Management
Marketing strategy and planning	Account management	Case management	Fieldworker mobility	Billing calculation	Benefits and compensation	Portfolio planning	Dispute and litigation resolution	IT strategy and planning management
Journey management	Sales enablement	Case teaming	Resource management	Revenue recognition	Learning and skills management	Portfolio governance	Legal counsel advisement	Architecture management
Lead generation	Contract life cycle management	Feedback and surveys	Operation schedule management and dispatch	Invoice management	Career and succession planning	Project resource and planning management	Intellectual property protection	IT asset management
Content management	Cross and up-sell management	Knowledge management	Work order management	Credits and collections	Talent acquisition	Project execution management	Corporate policy management	IT service management
Marketing analytics	Lead management	Omni-channel contact center	Field inventory and replenishment management		Time tracking management			IT delivery management
Audience segmentation and activation	Opportunity management	Self-service	Field service analysis and planning		Performance management			IT operations management
Preference and privacy management	Guided solution selling	Unified agent experience			Training and onboarding
Direct marketing	Sales analytics	Service quality and supervision analytics
Paid marketing		Predictive service
		Remote monitoring and proactive service

Hope this information helps you guys.

Cheers!!!

Mukul Sharma