The Public Power Energy Storage Toolkit is a feature-rich hub of resources for energy utilities looking to explore, initiate, plan, execute, and operate an energy storage solution.

Five stages of the public power energy storage process: explore opportunities, assess readiness, build the case, plan the project, and procure the solution.

Energy storage can be used to:

  • Strengthen reliability

  • Manage costs

  • Support load growth

  • Integrate distributed energy resources

  • Advance community priorities.

Turning that potential into a successful project, however, requires careful planning and coordination.

Practical, public-power-specific guides and tools help utilities assess their readiness, build support for an energy storage investment, develop a complete project plan, procure the right solution, and move confidently toward implementation.

Use the toolkit from beginning to end or start with the resource that best matches your current needs.

  • The Energy Storage Guidebook provides an introduction to energy storage opportunities, applications, and considerations relevant to public power utilities.

    Use the guidebook to better understand how energy storage can support priorities such as:

    • Peak demand management

    • Reliability and resilience

    • Renewable energy integration

    • Load growth and electrification

    • Infrastructure deferral

    • Cost management

    • Community and strategic objectives

    Best for

    Utilities that are beginning to explore energy storage or seeking a broader understanding of potential applications and public power considerations.

  • The Energy Storage Maturity Model allows utilities to evaluate their current capabilities and determine how prepared they are to plan, procure, implement, and operate an energy storage project.

    Take the assessment to:

    • Identify your organization’s existing strengths

    • Recognize planning or organizational gaps

    • Establish priorities for further development

    • Align departments around a common understanding of readiness

    • Determine practical next steps

    Best for

    Utilities that want to understand their organizational starting point before committing significant time or resources to project development.

  • The Business Case Guide walks utilities through how to develop a clear and decision-ready rationale for an energy storage investment.

    The guide helps teams communicate more effectively with utility leadership, governing boards, city officials, regulators, and other decision-makers.

    Follow the framework to ensure your business case adequately addresses:

    • The reason the solution is needed

    • Project goals and intended use cases

    • Alternatives considered

    • Proposed technical and ownership approaches

    • Expected costs and benefits

    • Financial considerations

    • Project risks and mitigation strategies

    • Implementation timelines

    • Measures of success

    • Recommended next steps

    Best for

    Utilities that have identified a potential energy storage opportunity and need to gain leadership, board, municipal, or regulatory support to proceed.

  • Once an energy storage project has received initial approval, the Project Plan Guide shows utility teams how to translate a concept into a coordinated and executable plan.

    The guide equips utilities to move beyond a basic schedule or technical specification. It provides a structured approach for coordinating the many functions necessary to a successful energy storage project.

    Topics include:

    • Project objectives and charter development

    • Scope and success criteria

    • Roles, responsibilities, and governance

    • Technical approach and ownership structure

    • Site selection and permitting

    • Interconnection requirements

    • Safety and emergency response coordination

    • SCADA, EMS, DERMS, and IT/OT integration

    • Cybersecurity considerations

    • Procurement planning

    • Project timelines and critical-path activities

    • Stakeholder and community communication

    • Risk identification and management

    • Operational and lifecycle planning

    Fillable worksheets and practical prompts help project teams document decisions, clarify responsibilities, and keep the project on track from start to finish.

    Best for

    Utilities that have received approval to move forward and need to coordinate engineering, operations, IT, finance, procurement, communications, leadership, and other participating functions.

  • The Procurement Guide equips utilities with the tools to manage a clear, competitive, and defensible solicitation process.

    It is designed to support the development of procurement documents that communicate utility requirements, encourage responsive proposals, and provide a sound basis for evaluating potential vendors and solutions.

    The guide addresses considerations such as:

    • Confirming the procurement pathway

    • Defining the project scope

    • Establishing technical and performance requirements

    • Coordinating municipal purchasing requirements

    • Identifying vendor qualifications

    • Developing proposal instructions

    • Structuring evaluation criteria

    • Establishing scoring and review procedures

    • Documenting the selection process

    • Addressing contract, schedule, warranty, and performance risks

    • Preparing for project award and execution

    The resource can be adapted to reflect the utility’s project objectives, governance structure, purchasing requirements, and level of internal procurement capacity.

    Best for

    Utilities preparing to develop a solicitation, evaluate proposals, select a vendor, or document a competitive procurement process.

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