The Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative (MADRI) seeks to identify and remedy retail and wholesale market barriers to the deployment of distributed generation, demand response, energy efficiency, and energy storage in the Mid-Atlantic region.
MADRI was established in 2004 by the public utility commissions of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and PJM Interconnection. The public utility commissions of Illinois and Ohio later became active participants. MADRI meetings are organized and facilitated by the Regulatory Assistance Project, funded through the U.S. DOE.
MADRI’s guiding principle is a belief that distributed energy resources should compete with generation and transmission to ensure grid reliability and a fully functioning wholesale electric market. However, institutional barriers and lack of market incentives appear to be slowing deployment of cost-effective distributed resources in the PJM Interconnection.
Meeting of the Minds
MADRI participants have met more than 40 times since 2004 to discuss significant developments and challenges for the technologies, markets and regulations that affect the deployment of distributed resources.
MADRI provides a venue to identify and consider different perspectives and possible solutions to these challenges in a collaborative setting, outside of contested cases and hearing rooms. On several occasions in the past, MADRI participants have produced consensus products (e.g., a model tariff for decoupling and small generator interconnection procedures) that have been implemented in whole or in part by utilities or state regulators.
MADRI meetings are free, open to all stakeholders and the public, and webcast live for those who cannot attend in person. The agenda for each meeting is established by a steering committee of state public utility commission staff. Meetings are chaired by a commissioner. MADRI meetings are organized and facilitated by the Regulatory Assistance Project, funded by the U.S. DOE. MADRI receives technical support for our meetings from PJM Interconnection.
Our Goals
- Educate stakeholders, especially state officials, on distributed energy resource opportunities, barriers, and solutions;
- Develop alternative distributed energy resource solutions for states and others to implement; and
- Pursue regional consensus on preferred solutions.