Eversource

Overview

Eversource and United Illuminating have launched Connecticut’s first Distributed Energy Resource (DER) market through the Piclo platform. This pioneering initiative aims to procure approximately 35MW of energy flexibility for the winter season of 2024/2025. It marks a significant milestone as New England’s first local grid flexibility market, offering new incentive opportunities for DER owners, operators, and aggregators, including electric vehicle charge point operators, battery developers, and residential or commercial load aggregators.

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Key Dates

• Registration Opens: July 9th, 2024

• Introductory Webinar: July 17th, 2024

• Qualification Deadline: September 27th, 2024

• Bidding Period: October 7th to November 1st, 2024

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Steps to Participate in Opportunities

1. Account Setup
   1. If you haven't done so already, register as a Flexibility Service Provider (FSP) on Piclo: create your personal login and set up an account for your organization.
   2. After setup, you can invite additional colleagues so your team can access and manage the same account. Remember, each team member will need to use their own email to log in.
2. Company Qualification
   1. On the Piclo platform, navigate to Manage > View Company Qualification > Applications or use the map competition side panel.
   2. Fill out the application form and submit it for approval. If you plan to submit bids in both Eversource and United Illuminating territories, you must complete two application forms – one for each EDC. 
   3. Learn more about the entire company qualification process by reading the detailed guide provided by Piclo, linked here.
3. Add Assets to the Platform
   1. On the Piclo platform, go to Manage > Assets. Download the latest template by selecting "download latest template"
   2. Open the file you downloaded. Fill in asset details (one row per asset), and save the file as xlsx. Don’t forget to read the instructions provided.
   3. When you are complete with the spreadsheet, return to your Piclo account and upload your file via the ‘choose file’ button. 
   4. Learn more about adding assets by reading the detailed guide provided by Piclo, linked here.

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For more information:

• Visit the Piclo platform‍

• Watch the recorded webinar

• Read the webinar slides

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Piclo Flex will be used to run a grid flexibility marketplace in predefined areas within Connecticut that can help mitigate grid constraints. By introducing a cloud-based, competitive marketplace to connect buyers of flexibility (the EDCs) with sellers of flexibility (Flexibility Service Providers or FSPs, e.g. DER Aggregators), this project aims to increase DER penetration and companies available to provide flexibility by consolidating them on a single platform, enabling multiple use cases beyond peak shaving. The pilot phase will involve customizing the existing Piclo Flex product to Connecticut’s grid, identifying use cases, running multiple auctions, and testing dispatch and settlement protocols with EDCs and FSPs.

This program was launched via the inaugural cycle of the Innovative Energy Solutions program (IES) in Connecticut. The IES program is a statewide initiative to identify, pilot, and scale innovative ideas that enable a decarbonized, affordable, and equitable electric grid for Connecticut. The IES program provides resources and support for the implementation of innovation projects. Projects that demonstrate benefits, cost-effectiveness, and scalability will have the opportunity to be deployed at scale.

The IES program is operated by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) with Strategen as Program Administrator, and support from the Innovation Advisory Council (IAC) and the two EDCs - Eversource and UI.

Learn more about the IES program