DERMS Use Case and Management Methodology: A ComEd Case Study

The rapid growth of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in northern Illinois, driven by supportive policies and declining technology costs, has exceeded 1 GW as of 2024, posing operational challenges for Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). High DER penetration can cause significant grid impacts if not managed in real time. In 2021, ComEd launched a demonstration of the Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) to enhance grid reliability, safety, and security while maximizing DER utilization. Although currently focused on Pro-Rata and (Last-In-First-Out) LIFO curtailment methods, this paper explores a novel hybrid strategy combining the two approaches. Case studies and simulations illustrate how such a hybrid method could balance fairness, operational efficiency, and grid stability,…