A Tough Puzzle

Parsing Out the Dramatic Challenges of Today’s Integrated Resource Planning

Categorized Under: Energy

By Elliot Roseman and Basak Uluca of ICF International, and published in Edison Electric Institute's Electric Perspectives, July/August 2007. Utility Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) and long-term internal planning have been gaining momentum in recent years. IRPs were popular in the 1980s and '90s and fell into disuse in restructured states, as IRPs were generally thought not to be necessary in competitive markets. Today, IRP and longer-term internal utility planning are regaining popularity in both traditional and deregulated states. However, today’s IRPs are more complicated and sophisticated and must take into account a much wider spectrum of issues, including energy efficiency, renewables, transmission planning, regional resources, climate change, and risk. This article discusses the complexities and the differences of today’s IRPs from those in the past, and how utilities can best undertake such necessary planning.

Authored By

Elliot Roseman
Vice PresidentICF International

A senior advisor with 30 years of energy industry experience, Elliot Roseman has expertise in policy analysis, strategic planning, regulatory and legislative strategy, project development, and financial analysis. He supports clients in evaluating energy and electric transmission opportunities, analyzing markets, and developing regulatory and business policies. His experience includes developing business, policy, and regulatory strategies; evaluating potential impacts of specific transactions; and conducting project due diligence.

Mr. Roseman has managed major policy assignments for private and public utilities, independent power generators, transmission developers, multilateral institutions, regulators, and government officials. He is an adjunct professor at George Washington University, teaching a graduate course on “Worldwide Energy Challenges.”
Dr. Basak Uluca Tuncel
ManagerICF International

Basak Uluca Tuncel works within ICF International's wholesale power area, performing advanced quantitative and economic modeling and analysis of energy markets to assess and forecast the future of electric power and fuel prices, fuel consumption, environmental emissions and compliance, transmission, and regulatory effects. She provides decision analytics and strategic support for new investments, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, commercial contracting, financing due diligence, utility resource planning, contract analysis, design and support, and regulatory and litigation support. In addition to her expertise in U.S. power markets, Dr. Uluca Tuncel has extensive knowledge of the Turkish power market and currently leads ICF's Turkish power market engagements. She has completed numerous Turkish power market assessments pertaining to electricity and fuel price projections, supply and demand forecasts, and dispatch analysis for power plants.

Dr. Uluca Tuncel has Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri–Rolla.