Valuing Vehicle-Grid Integration Programs

A Tool for Improving Energy Affordability through EV Grid Services

Key Takeaways

  • There is no “single” value of VGI, instead utilities can evaluate avoided capacity, energy, ancillary services, and distribution deferral benefits using consistent methodologies, understanding some benefits are location- and utility-specific

  • Customer value should remain distinct from utility system value; compensation mechanisms should reflect measurable system benefits while maintaining clear and bankable value streams for participants 

  • VGI must be treated as a grid-planning and cost-containment tool; evaluated alongside generation, transmission, and distribution investment planning

  • Data quality and measurement requirements are foundational program elements with clear frameworks for data accuracy, validation, timeliness, and retention. 

  • Early-stage deployments with meaningful customer participation are needed to accelerate learning and scale VGI programs; real system data and operational insights come from deployments, not pilots alone. 

Summary 

Utilities and policymakers are increasingly leveraging vehicle-grid integration (VGI) strategies to manage grid constraints and offer near and long-term bulk- and distribution-level benefits. This report examines how utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders can assess and operationalize the value of VGI programs and services. Valuing VGI is fundamentally a grid planning exercise aimed at managing accelerating load growth while protecting customer affordability.

This report is produced as part of the Utility Collaboration Forum, a joint effort between the Vehicle-Grid Integration Council (VGIC) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) to provide a regular venue for utilities to support peer-to-peer learning and to collaborate with the broader managed charging and bidirectional charging industry, including vehicle and charger manufacturers, software providers, and others working in transportation electrification. This year’s UCF builds upon the best practices identified in VGIC’s 2024 UCF forum and SEPA’s Multi-Utility vehicle-to-grid (V2G) Interconnection Project. 

Access the Valuing Vehicle-Grid Integration Programs Report

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