Electric Grid Capacity Study

Denver desires to solicit proposals for professional services to provide a study:

• Assessing the ability of portions of Denver’s electric grid to meet Denver’s electrification goals
• To determine and prioritize utility, regulatory, and/or municipal recommendations to prepare the distribution system for rapid electrification in Denver

In an effort to support its decarbonization efforts, CASR is seeking one or more qualified consultants for professional services to provide a study related to ability of Denver’s electric grid to meet Denver’s electrification goals. Key topic areas of the study include:

1. Load forecasting;
2. Identification of distribution- and service-level capacity bottlenecks in representative areas of the City and County of Denver;
3. Assessment of the electrical demand impacts, and strategies to mitigate that demand, pertaining to building electrification and electric vehicle (“EV”) charging;
4. Evaluation of utility resources, tariffs, and regulatory allowances to support system investments; and
5. Review of issues related to permitting, zoning, codes, and standards that most support or inhibit Denver’s goals.

Goals

The goals of this study are:

• To provide quantitative information that supports Denver in developing a mutual understanding with PSCo regarding the potential near-term, mid-term, and long-term electric distribution grid infrastructure impacts resulting from electrification scenarios within three to five specific areas of Denver in the next decade, and how demand management opportunities may mitigate those impacts;

• To investigate and identify, particularly through the lens of the load forecasting scenarios, key barriers to building and transportation electrification in the following four areas, at a minimum:
  • Load Forecasting and Distribution Standards
  • Developer Pre-Application Processes and Design Support
  • Cost Allocation and Recovery for Distribution Grid Upgrades
  • Coordination between Utility Requirements and Municipal Zoning, Permitting, Codes, and Standards
• To determine and prioritize changes and/or additions to distribution planning processes, utility tariffs, municipal or utility requirements (e.g., zoning, permitting, codes, standards), and/or cost recovery mechanisms to prepare the distribution system for rapid electrification while minimizing costs.

• 7/06/2023: Issuance of RFP via BidNet
  • Proposals will only be accepted electronically via the application portal
• 7/18/2023: Pre-proposal meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Microsoft Teams
  • Teams meeting link
  • Or call in (audio only): +1 720-388-6219.
    • Then dial 601369242#
    • Phone Conference ID: 601 369 242#
• 7/24/2023: Any final questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via BidNet by 10:00 a.m. local time
• 7/28/2023: CASR will issue responses to questions via BidNet
• 8/18/2023: Final submissions due by 10:00 a.m. local time