Risk and Resilience
Electric and gas utilities face an increasing variety of challenges including, but not limited to, extreme weather, wildfires, cybersecurity threats, and more. Risk assessments and proactive resilience planning are critical for addressing the increased frequency, intensity, and impacts of these events in a cost-effective manner that is in the public interest.
Overview
Synapse helps clients address the growing risks facing electric and gas utilities by developing comprehensive strategies to improve grid reliability and resilience. We focus on policy evaluation, technical analysis, and strategic planning to respond to challenges such as extreme weather, wildfires, and cybersecurity threats. We conduct energy system risk assessments, review utility-filed resilience investment plans, and evaluate whether proposed utility initiatives are cost-effective and in the public interest. With deep expertise in regulatory proceedings and resilience planning, Synapse provides actionable insights to guide infrastructure investment, protect communities, and strengthen long-term system performance in the face of increasingly severe disruptions.
Utility Resilience Investment Plans
We work on behalf of Public Utility Commissions, Consumer Advocates, and other intervenors to review and comment on utility resilience investment plans. We have deep expertise testifying in Western states on wildfire risk modeling and related cost recovery proposals to mitigate this risk. This includes robust assessments of utility risk modeling and the reasonableness of proposed or incurred mitigation costs in regulated proceedings. We are working in the Northeast on grid resilience with electrification and the shift to winter peaks. We have also worked on networks of resilience hubs for communities in Massachusetts and in the Southeast.
Community Resilience
We support city and town governments and other community representatives to develop microgrid and other distributed energy resource solutions that best meet community resilience needs as well as clean energy and equity priorities. We bring systems-level thinking to planning and leverage our experience in utility, building, and transportation networks. We conduct benefit-cost analyses of complex projects with multiple funding sources and numerous benefits, including resilience benefits.
State Energy Security Planning
We work for State Energy Offices and other leads in support of State Energy Security Planning. We convene stakeholder groups to discuss energy risks, identify scenarios for further exploration, develop methodologies to assess these scenarios, and apply the results to investment plans. We provide GIS mapping to illustrate geospatial differences in risk and identify the optimal locations for solutions.
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