Audience Response Question Results
Result Totals - Day One (XLS 173 KB, Multiple pages)
Result Totals - Day Two (XLS 237 KB, Multiple pages)
Day One
Results by Question (XLS 34 KB)
Graphical Results by Question (XLS 147 KB)
 – Voting at Beginning of the Session – Voting at the End of the Session |
1. What Demographic Category Do You Primarily Represent?
Regulator or Regulatory Staff
34%
Utility (IOU, Muni or Coop)
12%
Independent Transmission Co.
03%
RTO/ISO
05%
Generator/Developer
05%
Trade Association/NGO
09%
Vendor/Equipment Supplier
09%
Academia/Research
07%
Consultant/Lawyer
12%
Media/Other
05%
2. Which Changes to the Electricity Delivery System Should Have First Priority?
Add More Generating Capacity
08%
Change Generation Resource Mix
05%
Equip T&D Systems w/ Advanced Devices
20%
Build EHV Transmission Networks
34%
Replace Old Distribution Facilities
03%
Deploy Stronger DR & EE Programs
30%
3. Which Electricity Policy Should be Given Highest Priority?
Loan Guarantees for New Clean Generation Capacity
13%
Funds for Weatherization and Other Energy Efficiency Programs
22%
Funds for Advanced Batteries and Other Energy Storage
18%
Funds for Deployment of Smart Grid Technologies
31%
Extension of Existing Tax/Investment Credits
16%
4. How Should DOE Support Implementation of Transformative Electricity Policies?
Provide Renewable Resources with Preferential Access to New Transmission
03%
Support/Expand Regional Resource Planning
10%
Support National Renewable Portfolio Standard
04%
Provide Funding for Deployment of Innovative Technologies
31%
Designate More National Interest Transmission Corridors
06%
Approve and Implement Combination Some of Above
47%
5. Which Changes to the Electricity Delivery System Should Have First Priority?
Add More Generating Capacity
08%
04%
Change Generation Resource Mix
05%
06%
Equip T&D Systems w/ Advanced Devices
20%
13%
Build EHV Transmission Networks
34%
45%
Replace Old Distribution Facilities
03%
03%
Deploy Stronger DR & EE Programs
30%
29%
6. Which Electricity Policy Should be Given Highest Priority?
Loan Guarantees for New Clean Generation Capacity
13%
12%
Funds for Weatherization and Other Energy Efficiency Programs
22%
21%
Funds for Advanced Batteries and Other Energy Storage
18%
21%
Funds for Deployment of Smart Grid Technologies
31%
36%
Extension of Existing Tax/Investment Credits
16%
10%
7. How Should DOE Support Implementation of Transformative Electricity Policies?
Provide Renewable Resources with Preferential Access to New Transmission
03%
06%
Support/Expand Regional Resource Planning
10%
14%
Support National Renewable Portfolio Standard
04%
18%
Provide Funding for Deployment of Innovative Technologies
31%
33%
Designate More National Interest Transmission Corridors
06%
09%
Approve and Implement Combination Some of Above
47%
21%
8. What Demographic Category do You Primarily Represent?
Regulator or Regulatory Staff
36%
Utility (IOU, Muni or Coop)
11%
Independent Transmission Co.
01%
RTO/ISO
04%
Generator/Developer
05%
Trade Association/NGO
06%
Vendor/Equipment Supplier
03%
Academia/Research
07%
Consultant/Lawyer
18%
Media/Other
08%
9. Do You Anticipate Changes in Investment Plans in 2009?
(for your employer, companies you regulate, or in your geographic area)
Yes
81%
No
19%
10. I Believe the Ability to Finance Attractive Projects in 2009 Will be:
(for your employer, companies you regulate, or in your geographic area)
No problem
04%
Doable, but costly
38%
Require creative structuring to get done
48%
Too expensive to go forward
06%
Unobtainable at any cost
03%
11. To Date, I think FERC’s Decisions to Award Incentive Rates for Certain Transmission Projects Have Been:
Overused
43%
Underused
29%
About right
29%
12. How Much Impact Do You Believe Actions by State Regulators Have on Access to, and Cost of Financing?
Major influence
53%
Moderate influence
36%
Minimal
08%
None
03%
13. Going Forward, How Important is the Development and Implementation of New Technologies in the Electric Delivery Sector?
Urgent/very important
60%
Somewhat important
36%
Minimal importance
03%
Not relevant
01%
14. In Your Opinion, are There Mechanisms in Place to Cause Investment in Development and Implementation of Technologies Consistent with Your Answer on the Previous Question?
Yes
45%
No
55%
15. In the Next Five Years, What Percent of Engineers and Skilled Tradesmen in Electric Utilities will be Eligible for Retirement or Will Otherwise Leave their Positions?
60%
58%
45%
32%
30%
09%
15%
01%
16. The Aging Workforce Retirement is among the Top Five Critical Challenges Facing my Organization.
Strongly agree
34%
Somewhat agree
37%
Neither agree nor disagree
16%
Somewhat disagree
05%
Strongly disagree
08%
17. Today my Organization:
Is hiring new employees for all positions
40%
Is only hiring for mission-critical positions
42%
Has a hiring freeze
18%
18. What Role should State Regulators Play in Response to Workforce Concerns?
No role unless reliability suffers. It is a utility management responsibility.
23%
Ask for periodic reports or briefings from utilities on actions they are taking.
16%
Find and remove policy barriers or disincentives from regulatory policies such as in revenue requirements and advance planning.
25%
Actively engage with industry in collaborative activities among all stakeholders.
36%
19. What New or Expanded Skill Sets will be Needed by the Future Power Delivery Workforce?
Telecommunications technologies
00%
Computing, network & IT technologies
18%
EE, DR and renewable energy technologies
47%
Systems integration and planning
31%
Asset management methods
04%
Day Two
Results by Question (XLS 47 KB)
Graphical Results by Question (XLS 208 KB)
 – From 2008 Forum – From 2009 Forum |
1. What Demographic Category Do You Primarily Represent?
Regulator or Regulatory Staff
41%
Utility (IOU, Muni or Coop)
09%
Independent Transmission Co.
00%
RTO/ISO
07%
Generator/Developer
00%
Trade Association/NGO
04%
Vendor/Equipment Supplier
08%
Academia/Research
10%
Consultant/Lawyer
15%
Media/Other
06%
2. Which Component of the North American Electric Infrastructure Should Have the Highest Priority for Improvement?
More generating infrastructure
14%
Changing generating resource mix
22%
Equipping T&D system w/ advanced devices
19%
Replacing old distribution facilities
08%
Deploying demand response infrastructure
28%
Other
10%
3. Which Component of the North American Electric Infrastructure Should Have the Highest Priority for Improvement?
More generating infrastructure
10%
14%
Changing generating resource mix
22%
22%
Equipping T&D system w/ advanced devices
40%
19%
Replacing old distribution facilities
12%
08%
Deploying demand response infrastructure
13%
28%
Other
03%
10%
4. In Your Opinion, Which Technology Will Make the Greatest Contribution to Curbing Long-Term Growth in CO2 Emissions?
Clean coal w/ capture & storage
08%
Nuclear power
34%
Increased use of natural gas
04%
Renewable energy
17%
Storage tech, including PHEVs
05%
Energy efficiency programs
21%
Distributed energy resources
06%
Demand response technologies
06%
5. In Your Opinion, Which Technology Will Make the Greatest Contribution to Curbing Long-Term Growth in CO2 Emissions?
Clean coal w/ capture & storage
19%
08%
Nuclear power
33%
34%
Increased use of natural gas
02%
04%
Renewable energy
22%
17%
Storage tech, including PHEVs
06%
05%
Energy efficiency programs
15%
21%
Distributed energy resources
01%
06%
Demand response technologies
01%
06%
6. How Should Innovative Technologies Needed for the Electric Industry be Funded?
Private investment
19%
Carbon markets
05%
Ratepayer funded
12%
Federal government – incentives, stimulus, etc.
14%
Collaboration via public-private partnerships
50%
7. What Will be the Most Transformative Technology for the Electricity Industry?
Renewables and low-carbon generation tech.
15%
Transmission superhighways
19%
Energy storage technologies, inc. PHEVs
38%
An integrated Smart Grid
26%
Demand resources that reduce newbuilds
03%
8. What is the Greatest Challenge Facing the Transformation of the Electric System?
Global competition: For people and raw materials
05%
Insufficient funding: Credit crisis, lack of RD&D funding
23%
Technology shortfall: Not commercially viable in near-term
11%
Other priorities: Economy vs. Environment debate
22%
Inertia: Failure to agree and implement changes
39%
9. How Long Will it Take to Transform the US Electric System?
Current system is okay
04%
Within 5 years
01%
Within 10 years
27%
Within 20 years
51%
Within 40 years
18%
10. Do You Believe Integration of Renewables Leads to:
Potential higher operating reserves across the board, leading to higher costs
37%
Greater challenges in some regions as opposed to others
57%
No special challenges given existing technology and structures
06%
11. Wide-Scale Deployment of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles:
Will make it easier to maintain reliability and keep the system in balance
21%
Will make it harder to maintain reliability and keep the system in balance
65%
Will have no appreciable effect on reliability and system operations
13%
12. In Your View, Does the Presence of Substantial Demand Resources on the Grid::
Make it harder for system operators to keep the system in balance
40%
Make it easier for system operators to keep the system in balance
44%
Is no different than keeping the system in balance using generation resources
16%
13. Which Technologies Present the Most Challenge for Integration into System Operations?
Increased demand resources
03%
Deployment of plug-in hybrid vehicles
21%
Energy storage technologies
06%
Remotely located renewable resources
70%
14. Do You Believe There Is a Need for Extra High Voltage Transmission Highways?
Yes
88%
No
12%
15. If You Believe There is a Need for EHV Transmission Highways, are They Necessary to Ensure Reliability of Grid, Promote Economic Benefit or Deliver Remotely-Located Renewables to Load Centers?
Not applicable; not needed
05%
Needed primarily for reliability
08%
Needed primarily to deliver renewables to load
18%
Needed primarily for economic benefit
07%
Needed to address all three in answers 2-4 above
63%
16. If a Transmission Line is Constructed to Access Renewable Resources, Do You Believe that any Assurances Should be Required by Permitting Agencies that the Line will Actually Be Used to Deliver Renewable Resources?
Yes
49%
No
51%
17. What is the Best Way to Fund Regional Grid Expansion?
Each utility funds owns additions in its area
21%
Each utility funds based on expected benefits
65%
Each utility funds based on share of load
13%
Joint ownership by regional utilities
23%
Merchant transmission
11%
Federal financing
05%
18. What is the Appropriate Sized Region for Multi-Utility Transmission Planning?
Clusters of neighboring utilities
05%
An entire state
00%
RTO-sized multi-state regions
37%
NERC regions (not including Canada)
04%
NERC regions (including Canada)
16%
An entire interconnection (East, West, ERCOT)
34%
The lower 48 US states
05%
19. What is the Main Obstacle to Implementing a Regional Transmission Plan?
Fear it will lead to mandatory RTOs
05%
Effect on the consumer's electric bill
05%
Financial crisis and limits on credit
04%
Limited capital at a reasonable cost
02%
Cost allocation among utilities
42%
Local, state and federal siting
32%
Reluctance to export limited low cost power
07%
Lack of utility commitment of resources
05%
20. In Regional Transmission Planning, How Important is it to Take into Account Renewables Integration, Smart Grid and Efficiency/DG Opportunities?
Not important; should not be taken into account
00%
Slightly important; consider as time permits
02%
Somewhat important; should be considered
12%
Very important; devote sufficient resources
45%
Critically important; devote resources immediately
42%
21. Should the Region for Resource Planning Be the Same as the Region for Transmission Planning?
Yes
70%
No
30%
22. Do you Think the Nation needs NEW Traditional Resources in Light of the Move Toward Renewables?
Yes
76%
No
24%
23. Should Congress Adopt a National Renewable Portfolio Standard?
Yes
63%
No
37%
24. Should Renewables be Given Priority Access to New Transmission Lines?
Yes – Very important
08%
Yes – Only if costs are correct
16%
Maybe – If the line is built to specific renewable resource
23%
No – Electrons do not distinguish source
27%
No – not good economic policy
18%
Don't know – not enough information
07%
25. Based on What You Heard, DOE Should:
Lead efforts to design and build EHV transmission system.
13%
Increase support for regional planning efforts, leaving decision process alone.
11%
Deal w/ EHV networks, while States deal with distribution and Smart Grid.
13%
Concentrate on R&D on energy efficiency, Smart Grid, advanced batteries, and other storage technologies.
63%