Scoping Study of Integrated Resource Planning Needs in the Public Utility Sector

Integrated resource planning (IRP) is an approach to utility resource planning that integrates the evaluation of supply- and demand-side options for providing energy services at the least cost. Many utilities practice IRP; however, most studies about IRP focus on investor-owned utilities (IOUs). This scoping study investigates the IRP activities and needs of public utilities (not-for-profitutilities, including federal, state, municipal, and cooperative utilities). This study ( 1 ) profiles IRP-related characteristics of the public utility sector, (2) articulates the needs of public utilities in understanding and implementing IRP, and (3) identifies strategies to advance IRP principles in public utility planning.