What plans are being made to integrate load management with dynamic electric grid performance requirements?

Unfortunately the comments to this interesting question seem to follow the unfortunate, but typical path from online discussions of stating the opponent as more or less stupid and cause of all problems. The question and the challenges deserve better.

No doubt, we're facing challenges with the implementing of non-controlable DER's and EV charging stations. But for a nation that is able to reach Mars one would think US should be able to solve these problems.

Looking to Europe - e.g., Denmark where I am from - anyone will find that it IS possible to manage. Wind power alone produced 47% of Denmark's electricity consumption in 2017,[5] and is expected to increase its production by nearly 80% in the years to 2024. And I for my part have not experienced an outage for years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Denmark

I have no doubt we will succeed.

But to succeed we need to work together. Energy producers (small and large), DSO's, TSO's, consumers, and regulators. And software vendors. Today, grid control is too passive. We need to aim for predictive and proactive grid control.

Only with complete 24/7/365 analysis of the grid will we be able to optimize.

The grid problems are the result of too much erratic and unreliable energy being shoved into the grid. As the problem is caused by renewable energy, then renewable energy needs to solve the problem.

Fundamentally, those who cause problems need to be responsible for fixing the problems they create. Somewhat annoying that the article holds those responsible as apparently blameless.

I would say that the grid will morph into a grid of microgrids, where the 110Vac/60Hz only exits locally, maybe only at the individual appliance level, the upper levels being (HV-)DC to maximize power throughput on the existing wires.

Gee, let’s make the US into a third world country, replete with erratic frequency and voltage levels and power only supplied occasionally.

The purpose of the grid is to supply reliable energy, not kowtow to the green energy mafia. The “overbuilding” is the direct result of installing too many erratic and unreliable green energy facilities. Ask Texas how that works out.
 

In ERCOT there are significant load resources that bid into the responsive reserve service that do just what you describe.  They drop out when frequency drops below a certain limit.  Unlike voluntary programs that take up to 30 minutes to deploy, these sites are equipped with Under Frequency Relays that automatically and immediately respond to system frequency. The last I checked, load resources had maxed out the 40% limit on non-controllable load resources providing responsive reserves. This technology, however, seems to be cost prohibitive for residential customers.

In addition to these load resources, there is a penetration of the somewhat discretionary loads such as EV’s and battery storage that can avoid peak hours and be charged when the system is less stressed.

These technologies address the intraday and not the seasonal issues associated with capacity scarcity.  The low demand in the spring and fall provides a window opportunity for planned outages and maintenance of the generating units. 

I agree with your point that new technologies, and renewable resources are changing the traditional system planning landscape and we need to be proactive to make changes to allow for innovations.  

Other possibilities for revising traditional paradigms and maximizing utility profits:

• Automatically raising customer rates, on a quarterly basis, to compensate for poor earnings numbers
• Maintenance shedding - limiting the number of maintenance calls to each service area on an annual basis
• Service shedding - ending electricity service in areas where home solar has made utility electricity unprofitable
• Retail power purchase auctions - would give utilities the option of pre-selling electrical service for the following month to the highest bidder

We can do that without the electric system. Voltage and frequency monitors are cheap in quantity, they can be built into appliances, etc. 

We need to avoid the Germany problem and randomize to some extent the point that stuff shuts off and starts back up. 

We can also think about limiting demand with the latching relay in most AMI meters when a high load day is expected. 

Both of these options limit cyber security issues to some extent. 

There are a dozen different ways to do this beyond these suggestions.