A full set service solutions with financing options will increasingly be required to address the portfolio needs of C&I customers, with energy storage, smart building analytics and controls as key enabling technologies, the author writes.

While PG&E did not cause another catastrophic wildfire in Northern California this year, it still has to deal with risky infrastructure, the likelihood of prolonged power shut-offs and the specter of municipalization.

The company's virtual power plant of 50,000 houses is only 2% complete so far, but it proved its worth during a generator outage this fall.

"We're eager to see how Voltus' technology and services will unlock not only the value of various types of demand response, but all types of distributed energy resources in the SPP footprint," the grid operator's COO said.

The changes proposed by the staff of the New York Department of Public Service show a potential path forward for residential and small business rooftop solar users.