(The Center Square) – Faced with unprecedented energy demand, an aging grid, and a backlog of new generation projects awaiting connection, energy experts are searching for ways to head off a projected shortfall in electricity supply.
While long-term reforms are needed, some say a mix of smart policy and innovative technology could deliver quick, cost-effective solutions to help stave off the looming crisis and contain rising energy costs.
Sarah Steinberg, managing director at Advanced Energy United, and Chris D’Agostino, the organization’s Pennsylvania lead, told The Center Square they have created a playbook outlining ways to speed up generation and the buildout of energy infrastructure while making it more flexible and affordable. They emphasized that legislative support is key to putting these strategies into action.
Their three-pronged plan includes:
Integrated Energy System Planning – requiring collaboration between gas and electric utilities so regulators can choose the least-cost options for consumers.Grid Flexibility Goals – setting targets for utilities to use demand response, distributed resources, and advanced transmission to enhance reliability and reduce costs.Consumer Cost Protections – ensuring utilities evaluate non-pipe and non-wires alternatives before committing major investments.
While still new, and in limited use, they view integrated energy planning as a key innovation to optimize utility operations and investments.
D’Agostino explained that electric and gas functions overlap more than ever, making communication and coordination essential.
He compared it to a potluck dinner: without coordination, two people might bring the same dish. Similarly, a lack of collaboration between utilities risks duplicating investments and unnecessary spending.
Steinberg added that coordination helps avoid both overbuilding, which drives up costs, and underbuilding, which threatens reliability.
Pennsylvania’s grid, D’Agostino said, is among the oldest in the country, making efficiency crucial. One solution is the use of Advanced Transmission Technologies, or ATTs, which optimize the flow of electricity, reduce congestion, and supports renewable integration.
ATTs can be deployed in as little as 12 to 15 months – faster and less expensive than building new substations – though both approaches are needed, he said.
He cited analysis by RMI showing that a $100 million investment in grid enhancement technologies, or GETs – a subset of ATTs – could save PJM customers $1 billion annually.
These technologies are being seriously considered in other states, and they want to develop a policy framework to move them forward in the Pennsylvania – “because it’s just common sense,” he said.
D’Agostino added that when natural disasters strike, and poles and wires fail, ATTs can reroute electricity to where it’s needed most.
Another solution being proposed is asking utilities to analyze lower-cost alternatives before committing to major infrastructure investments.
Pennsylvania’s aging natural gas pipelines, Steinberg said, are vulnerable to cracking, and expensive to replace. Evaluating what’s in the ground is a critical first step.
In September, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, voted to accelerate efforts to identify and replace older plastic pipes in the state’s natural gas distribution systems, many dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. Promising options like pipeline repair and relining could minimize costs passed on to customers.
On the consumer side, Steinberg highlighted smart thermostats, home batteries, and geothermal systems that help households save by managing when and how they use energy. Though they require upfront investment, these tools deliver long-term savings and reduce overall demand – one of the key drivers of higher prices. The challenge, she said, is ensuring they’re accessible and affordable.
While Pennsylvania’s lawmakers are considering bills on a variety of energy issues, none specifically address integrated energy planning or advanced transmission technologies. However, House Bill 705 would require electric distribution companies to coordinate on long-term grid infrastructure planning.
Steinberg said it’s all about making sure we have the right regulatory oversight and utility incentives in place so companies can plan and deliver energy infrastructure efficiently and at the lowest cost. For policymakers focused on energy affordability, this approach offers a practical first step to curb unnecessary spending and prevent deepening the deficit.
Utilities may ultimately prsue traditional projects, but they should first examine lower-cost options to meet system and customer needs. “That is largely not happening today at scale,” Steinberg said. Regulatory changes, she added, could require utilities to “bake this into their project planning process.”
