The City of Batavia has contracted The Brattle Group to conduct a comprehensive electric utility planning study to ensure our energy system remains reliable, affordable, and aligned with the city’s long-term environmental policy goals. This project will focus on four interconnected studies:
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Study is a long-term strategy designed to determine the best mix of energy sources—such as solar, wind, natural gas, and others-- to meet Batavia’s future electricity needs while fulfilling obligations to the Prairie State Energy Campus obligations. This study evaluates cost, reliability, and environmental impact to make sure customers continue to receive affordable, dependable power while aligning with policy objectives.
The Infrastructure Resiliency Study is a capital planning effort that identifies where and how to invest in the grid to make it stronger against threats like severe weather, aging equipment, security risks, and new technologies like rooftop solar, battery banks, and electric vehicles. It guides long-term spending on upgrades and new projects to ensure reliable power and faster recovery when problems occur.
The Cost of Service Study is a detailed analysis that evaluates the cost of providing electricity to different customer groups including residential, commercial, and industrial users. The study ensures that rates are set fairly by identifying how each group uses resources and contributes to overall system costs.
Rate Design is the process of translating the findings of a Cost of Service Study into electricity rates customers pay. It aims to balance fairness, simplicity, and incentives—like promoting energy efficiency—while ensuring the utility covers its costs. Those incentives can also influence future IRP, Infrastructure, and Cost of Service studies, making rate design an ongoing, iterative process.
To learn more about the process, visit the Stakeholder Kickoff Meeting Presentation (PDF) or watch the meeting recording on BATV (YouTube link).