Policy Impacts

Making New York’s Energy System More Resilient

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the New York State Public Service Commission sought a new framework for improving the resiliency of electric utility Con Edison. We made a series of policy recommendations, submitted as public comments to the Commission, and many of our suggestions were adopted in the Commission’s order. We suggested that the cost-benefit analysis used to evaluate resiliency investments be comprehensive, going beyond the scope of a traditional capital expenditure analysis. We also proposed that the utility evaluate both traditional and alternative approaches to resilience, quantify societal costs, and monetize impacts where possible. Each of these recommendations was adopted by the Commission, resulting in a stronger framework for protecting New York’s energy system.