Technology: Net‐Zero Buildings and Distributed Generation Forcing New Business Models

Abstract

AbstractThe Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) recently published a report with an intriguing title—“Net Energy Metering, Zero Net Energy, and the Distributed Energy Resource Future: Adapting Electric Utility Business Models For The 21st Century.” Apart from the subject matter, the intriguing connection is the linking of net energy metering, zero net energy, and distributed energy with twenty‐first century business models. The report is intended to evaluate the potential implications for the utility and its customers of a future business environment characterized by high levels of customer energy efficiency, zero‐net‐energy buildings, and distributed generation (DG) by utility customers.