The Oracle Utilities Network Management System Grid DERMS is a distribution-level optimization and control module designed to monitor and orchestrate distributed energy resources (DERs) across the electric distribution network. By ingesting DER schedules, forecasts, bids, and dynamic pricing alongside the live network model, Grid DERMS runs multi-interval optimal power flow (OPF) analyses to compute safe, feasible real and reactive set‑points that respect all network constraints. Supporting typical objectives such as Network Capacity Allocation, Economic Dispatch, and Peak Shaving, the system enables utilities to relieve thermal or voltage constraints, minimize operating costs, and reduce peak demand in a coordinated, constraint-aware manner. Each analysis is scheduled based on a configurable start time, forecast horizon, and interval granularity. Upon completion, Grid DERMS creates a Work Agenda event with an associated DERMS report and generates a switching sheet that can be executed in manual or automatic mode depending on system configuration and feeder eligibility. This approach ensures actionable plans are produced for operators, outcomes are tracked, and all results are stored for audit and reporting, delivering end-to-end management and optimization of distributed energy resources.

The Network Capacity Allocation (NCA) analysis will determine based on submitted forecasts how much generation can be offered for a 24-hour period without creating network congestion or voltage problems. Currently with the number of DER units that are being added to the distribution network situations can arise that create congestion and/or voltage issues on the system if all DER resource were contributing power at the same time. The NCA analysis will run ahead of time to determine based on generation schedules submitted by the generator's problems will arise. If it is determined that issues will be created the NCA analysis will begin curtailing units that are capable of relieving issues. The analysis will look at the highest cost unit and begin curtailing that unit first. If the curtailment relieves the violations, no other units will be curtailed if the analysis determines the issue is still present the next highest cost unit will be curtailed, the analysis will continue until all units have been curtailed or violations eliminated. When generating solutions for the analysis each hour will be evaluated independently such that a unique set of generation values will be generated for each hour. The analysis can be setup to either consider or ignore pre-existing conditions. If a feeder is setup to ignore pre-existing conditions, it will discard any congestion or voltage issues that existed before the generation schedules were considered. For example, if a feeder has a flow constraint without any market participant DERs being considered that specific constraint issue will be ignored when the analysis is run. If a feeder is setup to consider pre-existing conditions all violations will be considered such that if anything is made worse by the forecast schedules for the DER units, the units will begin being curtailed to relieve any possible issues.

For Economic Dispatch, Grid DERMS optimizes the dispatch of distributed energy resources (DERs) to minimize total operating costs across the distribution network, while strictly observing network constraints such as voltage and equipment loading limits. The system aggregates DER bids and dynamic pricing information-along with real-time and forecasted network conditions-then runs a multi-interval optimal power flow (OPF) analysis to determine the most cost-effective allocation of real and reactive power among controllable DERs. Economic Dispatch prioritizes the use of lower-cost resources and curtails more expensive units only as needed, ensuring that network safety and reliability are never compromised in pursuit of cost savings.

For Peak Shaving, Grid DERMS analyzes forecasted load profiles over the next 24 hours to identify periods of anticipated peak demand on the distribution network. The system leverages multi-interval optimal power flow (OPF) to develop an optimized charging and discharging schedule for large-scale battery storage and other controllable distributed energy resources. During identified peak hours, Grid DERMS discharges batteries to reduce system load, thereby mitigating demand peaks and improving system reliability. The solution also strategically manages charging and resource allocation during off-peak periods, ensuring energy storage assets are replenished without causing network overloads or violating operational constraints. By coordinating the dispatch of distributed storage assets in this way, Grid DERMS enables the utility to flatten demand curves, defer infrastructure upgrades, reduce demand charges, and enhance overall distribution network efficiency.