NERC's Reliability Assessment: What It Means for Utilities, How KORE Power Can Help

NERC’s latest reliability assessment, released in late 2024, highlights the “critical reliability challenges” facing most of the North American electric system. But now is not the time for alarmist proclamations or finger-pointing. Solving these challenges and ensuring a reliable supply of electricity will require close coordination, partnership and innovation with input from utilities, industry and regulators.

The assessment reasserts earlier concerns from grid operators. Last June, the CEO of Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) said there are “immediate and serious challenges to the reliability of our region’s electric grid.” MISO is looking at a deficit of up to 2.7 GW of power as soon as next summer.

Also last June, the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) issued an adequacy report which found the region was on track to be short 6 GW of power by 2029. The President and CEO of SPP said then that “resource adequacy” is a clear risk for their system.

Across the utility sector, more and more operators are using battery energy storage to help bridge the gap in capacity — particularly in areas with increased reliance on intermittent energy resources like wind and solar. But as NERC’s assessment notes, as with any new technology, integrating BESS to the grid can present new challenges:

“Accurately accounting for BESS in operating and planning studies is a challenge because it requires assumptions and modeling capabilities for battery charging and discharging behavior. In real-time operations, system operators often do not have visibility into battery state-of charge, a necessary condition for reliably integrating batteries into system operating plans. Without such information, operators may be surprised should battery resources fail to deliver when needed.”

KORE Helps Utilities Turn Insights Into Action

At KORE, we’re more than just a technology provider. As the only U.S. battery energy storage company with five decades of in-the-field experience, we have seen the changing electric grid first-hand, and we understand the challenges of resource integration. This is why we pride ourselves on being a partner in navigating the challenges of meeting load demand, resource integration, and accurate, real-time data monitoring.

Here’s how we help:

• Data-Driven Insights: Our advanced analytics interpret complex grid performance data, allowing utilities to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize improvements.  

• Resilience Strategies: From developing storm-hardening measures to refining recovery plans, we excel at strengthening grid resilience.  

• Seamless Renewable Integration: Whether managing intermittent solar and wind energy or incorporating storage solutions, we help utilities maintain grid stability.  

• Cybersecurity You Can Trust: Protecting critical infrastructure is our top priority, and our robust cybersecurity solutions are designed to counter threats.  

• Compliance Made Easy: With decades of experience, we offer tools and support to meet compliance requirements without the stress.

Case Study: Helping Vermont Electric Power (VELCO)  Manage Operations During Peak Demand

Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), founded in in 1956, was the nation’s first state-wide transmission-only company and operates the grid across Vermont’s 19 distribution utilities.

The company installed a solar PV at its headquarters to help power critical grid operations, but to take full advantage of that system, it needed the electricity generated by the panels to be available quickly, even if the sun wasn’t shining.

KORE worked closely with the VELCO team to analyze the headquarters’ energy needs and designed an energy storage system that allows the facility to draw power during times of high-priced peak demand, while also supporting electric-grid stability.

The system is continuously monitored at KORE’s network operations center, which provides critical data to VELCO’s operations team through KORE’s secured SCADA system. Our partnership is helping VELCO serve its customers while saving money, ensuring readiness and gaining valuable data.

Looking Ahead

As we face a future with more renewable energy, changing weather patterns, and new threats to the grid, NERC’s reliability assessments are more important than ever. KORE is committed to helping utilities stay ahead by turning insights into action—and putting a trusted partner by your side.

At KORE, we’re ready to tackle these challenges with you, helping to build a more resilient, reliable, and sustainable energy future.