Residential Demand Response
Residential demand response, also known as load shedding, reduces load on the electricity power grid when demand exceeds supply. Utilities have long managed the demand of commercial/industrial users through a combination of incentive- and rate-based programs. Now, with the advent of the smart grid, similar programs can be offered to consumers. Although on an individual basis, consumers’ electricity use is comparatively small, when taken in aggregate, their usage can consist of a large portion of a utility’s load. Typical residential demand response devices that would take part in such a program include air conditioners, pool pumps, and electric heaters.
While demand response is a new concept in North America, cellular pager-based, one-way, ripple-control load-shedding systems have been in place in Europe for many years. However, energy networks such as the NES System create a new paradigm for utilities to deliver residential demand response — networks that leverage bidirectional control, the ability to receive cost and timing data, and the power of HANs. Utilities want to replace one-way, dedicated systems due to cost, network availability (in the case of pager systems), and maintenance issues.
The NES System offers utilities a bidirectional, centrally managed system that supports verification of consumer actions, time-of-use pricing, and an open architecture for HANs. Additionally, to accommodate consumers with special energy needs and cold/hot weather, the NES System supports minimal or lifeline service levels with software-configurable thresholds.
A two-way, advanced metering platform that inherently supports robust residential demand response is the best way to make the power grid more stable, avoid using least-efficient or least-desirable power plants, and reduce consumers’ energy bills.
Key Attributes of the NES System that Support Residential Demand Response
- Secondary load control relay option in the meter
- Standardized third-party expansion from the meter to support customized demand response applications
- End-to-end verification that the load was shed or overridden
- Scalable, fast performance — thousands of loads can be shed within minutes, a single load can be shed in seconds
- Lifeline support (software configurable)
- Support for HAN connections and in-home displays over wireless connections (optional)
- Support for M-Bus-based heat, water, and gas meters to extend demand response to other utilities