Mr. Hledik has expertise in assessing the economics of smart grid investments and policies.
Mr. Ryan Hledik is a principal of The Brattle Group specializing in the economics of policies and technologies that are focused on the energy consumer. He assists clients confronting complex issues related to the evolution of utility customers from passive consumers to active managers of their energy needs.
Mr. Hledik has supported utilities, policymakers, law firms, technology firms, research organizations, and wholesale market operators in matters related to retail rate design, energy efficiency, demand response, distributed generation, and smart grid investments. He has worked with more than 50 clients across 30 states and eight countries.
Mr. Hledik’s contributions have included the development of widely cited models for the economic valuation of demand-side programs, serving as a member of a U.S. Department of Energy advisory group to review the activities of Smart Grid Investment Grant recipients, and providing strategic advice to firms implementing new retail initiatives. He has been the lead developer of several energy market simulation tools for the purposes of wholesale price forecasting, asset valuation, and environmental impact analysis.
A frequent presenter on the benefits of smarter energy management, Mr. Hledik has spoken at events throughout the United States, as well as in Brazil, Canada, Korea, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. He regularly publishes on complex retail electricity issues.
Mr. Hledik received his M.S. in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University, with a concentration in Energy Economics and Policy. He received his B.S. in Applied Science from the University of Pennsylvania, with minors in Economics and Mathematics. Prior to joining The Brattle Group, Mr. Hledik was a research assistant with Stanford University’s Energy Modeling Forum and a research analyst at Charles River Associates.
For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s energy regulator (ECRA), worked with a team of consultants to develop the nation’s first demand-side management (DSM) plan. Participated in an introductory workshop with key stakeholders and conducted a series of in-country interviews to gather more detailed information. Co-authored an extensive study on the potential impacts and cost-effectiveness of a full range of DSM measures in Saudi Arabia and worked with the team to develop policy recommendations and a ten-year plan for rolling out DSM measures across the country.
For utilities and other organizations spanning more than 20 states and provinces across North America, designed innovative retail pricing structures such as time-of-use (TOU), critical-peak pricing (CPP), peak-time rebates (PTR), real-time pricing (RTP), and inclining block rates (IBR). Simulated the likely impact of the rates on utility load shapes and customer bills. Assessed the costs and benefits of offering these rates to the mass market. Developed strategies for transitioning to the new rate structures.
The analysis used a bottom-up approach to quantify economic and achievable peak demand reduction potential individually for each of the 50 states, and to characterize the existing level of DR in each state. Additionally, the work involved a comprehensive survey and analysis of existing literature on DR barriers at the wholesale and retail levels, as well as policy options for addressing these barriers. Results were filed with U.S. Congress in June 2009 in a report titled A National Assessment of Demand Response Potential.
For the five Vietnamese distribution utilities, developed a 10-year roadmap for smart grid deployment across the country. The project began with a series of in-country stakeholder interviews and an initial assessment of the state of the Vietnamese grid. This information was used to develop preliminary recommendations for smart grid investment, which were presented and discussed during a one-day workshop with industry stakeholders. Findings were summarized in a final report titled Vietnam’s 10-year Smart Grid Roadmap. The project was funded by the World Bank.
RECAP is an optimization model for forecasting the mix of generating capacity necessary to meet future U.S. electricity demand. The model closely calibrates to Annual Energy Outlook forecasts and was originally used in a study for the Edison Electric Institute to quantify the amount of generation and transmission capital investment that could be avoided through demand-side management. It has also been used to quantify the environmental impacts of smart grid investment, to develop long-term power price forecasts to inform investment decisions in new generation assets, and to assess the economics of extending the transmission network to new sources of renewable energy.
Affidavit of Ahmad Faruqui and Ryan Hledik on Behalf of Comverge, Regarding PJM’s Proposed Tariff Revisions Regarding Demand Response Capacity Market Participation Requirements. Before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Docket No. ER13-2108-000
August 22, 2013
An Oregon native, Ryan is a fan of the Portland Trailblazers, good coffee, and country music. He enjoys cycling, yoga, running, basketball, tennis, and cross-country skiing.
Ryan lives in London with his wife Jenny and son Weston.