CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of RFP 21-192, Hosting Capacity Study, to CMY Solutions, LLC for an amount not to exceed $160,000
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DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Groth, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, the interconnection of distributed energy resources (DER) on the Naperville Electric Utility (Utility) distribution system has continued to grow. For example, the number of photovoltaic (PV) systems, commonly known as rooftop or ground-mounted solar systems, brought online in 2017 was only five. In 2020, that number grew to 208 and, as of March 2021, there were a total of 352 active PV systems with another 41 in the permit queue.
Applications for PV interconnection are currently evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some basic rules for evaluating whether PV interconnection is allowed have been put in place to ensure that the intermittent nature of solar energy does not adversely impact the local electric grid. Current rules are limiting residential customers to no larger than 10kW, or their highest three-year peak demand, whichever is smaller. While these rules and policies have served the Utility well, they lack a thorough analytical foundation and do not provide a proactive means of validating the impacts on the entire distribution system.
In June 2021, the Utility issued RFP 21-192, Hosting Capacity Study, to contract with a qualified consultant to complete a static hosting capacity study across the entire Naperville Electric Utility 12kV distribution system. The study will analyze the entire 12kV distribution system including all 117 distribution feeders. Best practices will be applied resulting in a detailed written report providing a list of potentially actionable items or policy changes for the Utility to consider.
The result of the study will empower the Utility to make more informed, proactive, and cost-efficient policies as well as plan capital improvements to better facilitate the interconnection of the DER.
DISCUSSION:
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Advertisement Date: |
06/04/21 |
Notices Sent: |
220 |
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Opening Date: |
06/25/21 |
Planholders: |
13 |
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Proposals Received: |
3 |
Proposals were received from the following vendors:
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CMY Solutions, LLC |
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Quanta Technology, LLC |
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Sargent & Lundy |
A selection team comprised of staff from the Electric Utility, TED Business Group and City Manager’s Office evaluated the proposals, which were scored based upon the criteria set forth in the RFP:
1. Capability, Capacity and Qualifications of the Firm (30%)
2. Suitability and Quality of the Approach/Methodology (30%)
3. Milestones and Deliverables (30%)
4. Outcomes to be Achieved (10%)
After review and scoring of the proposals, the selection committee invited the top two vendors, CMY Solutions, LLC and Quanta Technologies, LLC, to attend virtual interviews. Following the completion of the interviews, the selection committee rescored the vendors. The vendor with the highest qualification score, CMY Solutions, is recommended for award. The table below provides a summary of the final qualification scores:
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Vendor |
Qualification Score |
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CMY Solutions, LLC |
90.3 |
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Quanta Technologies, LLC |
70.3 |
The evaluation committee feels that CMY Solutions will provide the Utility with better solutions for its needs and provided good explanations of how they will conduct the study. CMY will also provide a tool so that staff can maintain the solution internally and run it as needed. In addition, the Utility will not have to purchase anything additional during the project, whereas Quanta advised that additional items may be needed once the project begins.
The anticipated completion date of the project is December 31, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP#: N/A
Hosting Capacity Study is expensed to the Architect and Engineering Service account listed below. This study exceeds the budgeted amount in this account but can be accommodated by savings in other Electric Utility Fund items, such as transmission tower painting. DPU-E moved quickly with this study because of an unprecedented increase in solar panel installations on roofs of residential houses. We feel we need to conduct this study expeditiously to create appropriate policies.
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Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
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40321300-531301 |
Electric Utility |
$45,000 |