With the growing number of not just personal electric cars, trucks, and SUVs, but also commercial fleets of electric vehicles, traditional grids are inadequate to utilize what are essentially drivable batteries. For example, when an area loses power from a downed electrical line during a storm, anything down-stream of the issue is isolated from the generator and is thus without power \u2013 a so called \u201cvoltage island.\u201d[6]<\/a> In a two-way electric grid, however, the batteries powering electric vehicles can serve as the generators. An electric vehicle can plug into the grid and provide temporary power to the isolated area until the electrical lines are repaired. [7]<\/a><\/p>\n Another added benefit of smart grids comes when there is no power outage. Transmitting electricity hundreds of miles from the generator incurs noticeable loss and loses efficiency as the distance to the consumer increases.[8]<\/a> To overcome the issue in a traditional grid could require monumental investments, such as replacing the typical steel-aluminum construction of common transmission lines with precious metals, such as silver, gold, or copper.[9]<\/a> However, plugging an electric vehicle back into the grid has the potential to reduce this inefficiency because the electrical source is closer to the end-user. Furthermore, this puts less demand on the infrastructure, especially during times of high overall power consumption.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n Understandably, consumers may not want to exploit their car\u2019s battery packs given that discharges directly lower the effective life of a battery. Dominion is also in the process of addressing this with a solution that has its own independent benefits. \u201cIn 2019, [Dominion] announced an innovative electric school bus initiative to replace diesel school buses with electric school buses, and then leverage the batteries using vehicle-to-grid technology. Fifty electric school buses have been delivered to school districts throughout Virginia. The Company plan[ned] to begin evaluation and vehicle-to-grid testing this year.\u201d[11]<\/a><\/p>\n Virginia\u2019s \u201cGeneral Assembly accelerated its transition to a cleaner energy future with the passage of the VCEA in 2020. The VCEA calls for the development of a significant amounts . . . of small-scale [generation] resources that will interconnect to the distribution grid.\u201d[12]<\/a> The implementation of Dominion\u2019s grid transformation plan is well underway to meet these developments, and Virginia\u2019s SCC continues to keep a watchful eye over it.[13]<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Petition of Virginia Electric and Power Company, For approval of a plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects pursuant to \u00a7 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia, and for approval of an addition to the terms and conditions applicable to electric service<\/em>, Case No. PUR-2019-00154, Doc. Con. Cen. No. 218630055, Order Granting Motion (June 14, 2020), https:\/\/scc.virginia.gov\/docketsearch\/DOCS\/532v01!.PDF.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Grid Transformation Plan Phase II<\/em>, Dominion Energy, Inc. (last visited Nov. 9, 2021), https:\/\/cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net\/-\/media\/pdfs\/global\/projects-and-facilities\/electric-projects\/grid\/gt-plan-phase-ii.pdf?la=en&rev=0cd40dd1b5674ebf813de4f10d5e440d.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Petition of Virginia Electric and Power Company, For approval of a plan for electric distribution grid transformation projects pursuant to \u00a7 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia<\/em>, Part 1 of 7 at 4, Case No. PUR-2021-00127, Doc. Con. Cen. No. 210640058, (June 21, 2021), https:\/\/scc.virginia.gov\/docketsearch\/DOCS\/53v901!.PDF [hereinafter 2021 Petition].<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> See id<\/em>.<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> Id<\/em> at 35.<\/p>\n [6]<\/a> Id<\/em> at 22.<\/p>\n [7]<\/a> See<\/em> What is the Smart Grid<\/em>, Department of Energy Office of Electricity (last visited Nov. 9, 2021), https:\/\/www.smartgrid.gov\/the_smart_grid\/index.html (defining \u201csmart grids\u201d).<\/p>\n [8]<\/a> Jacques Schonek, How Big are Power Line Losses<\/em>, Schneider Electric (Mar. 25, 2013), https:\/\/blog.se.com\/energy-management-energy-efficiency\/2013\/03\/25\/how-big-are-power-line-losses\/.<\/p>\n [9]<\/a> See Kashyap Vyas, Electrical Energy and the Importance of Conductors<\/em>, Interesting Engineering (Dec. 7, 2019), https:\/\/interestingengineering.com\/electrical-energy-and-the-importance-of-conductors; Jennifer Sutton, How Do Electricity Transmission Lines Withstand a Lifetime of Exposure to the Elements?<\/em>, MIT School of Engineering (Apr. 26, 2010), https:\/\/engineering.mit.edu\/engage\/ask-an-engineer\/how-do-electricity-transmission-lines-withstand-a-lifetime-of-exposure-to-the-elements\/.<\/p>\n [10]<\/a> 2021 Petition, supra<\/em> note 3, at 9\u201310.<\/p>\n [11]<\/a> Id<\/em> at 37.<\/p>\n
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