WIRAB Technical Resource: Oversight of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) in the West
Utilities in the Western Interconnection are rapidly adding inverter-based resources (IBRs) such as solar, wind, and battery storage. In 2024, WIRAB commissioned the IBR Risk Assessment Report, which identified reliability risks across the IBR lifecycle—from interconnection and modeling to commissioning, operation, and post-event performance.
Following up on this Report, WIRAB has developed a new Technical Resource in collaboration with Elevate Energy Consulting, which equips state regulators, commissioners, and their staff with practical tools and guiding questions that can be used directly in proceedings such as integrated resource planning, interconnection reviews, rate cases, and commissioning oversight.
Highlights:
- Purpose: Provide regulators with actionable questions to hold utilities accountable, ensure prudent investments, and protect consumers.
- Applicability: Describes the difference between both bulk power system (IEEE 2800) and distribution-level DERs (IEEE 1547).
- Why it matters: 85% of new generation in the West will be IBRs—requiring modern oversight to avoid reliability risks and unnecessary costs.
- Recommendations: Ten actions for regulators, including aligning with industry best practices (i.e., IEEE 2800), requiring verified models, monitoring performance, and coordinating regionally.
- Focus Areas: Seven lifecycle categories with detailed guiding questions—from interconnection requirements to maximizing legacy IBRs.
Webinar: Tuesday, December 2 at 2:00 PM MT (1:00 PM PT)
Join us for a live webinar introducing the Resource, walking through the guiding questions, and discussing how regulators can apply them in real-world proceedings.
Please contact Eric Baran with questions.