Distributed Generation Policy of Con Edison

Following the steps of the gas industry, the traditional paradigm of the vertically integrated electrical utility structure has begun to change. In the United States, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued several rules and Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) to set the road map for electric utility deregulation. The power crisis in California has drawn great attention and sparked intense discussion within the utility industry. One general conclusion is to rejuvenate integrated resource planning and promote the distributed generation via traditional fossil or renewable generation facilities for the deregulated utility systems. Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) permits any customer to operate generating equipment in parallel with the Con Edison's electric distribution system. Distributed Generation (DG) will play an increasingly important role in Con Edison's electric distribution system, and DG one day may become an integral part of Con Edison's electric system. This paper discusses the options and current development of DG at customer facilities on Con Edison's electric distribution system.