Real Time Demand Response

 

Demand Response programs are quickly becoming the vehicle that are used by Electricity Market Operators and Utilities to reduce electrical grid load when demand is high or generation capacity is interrupted.  Industrial, commercial and aggregated energy users reduce their load to a contracted level when they receive a signal from the Utility or Market Operator. 

 

The main benefit for customers to participate in DR programs is the monetary benefit of cutting load and being paid for it at the market rate which is typically high (hence the reason for the request to reduce load).  For some customers, the challenge is to keep operating while meeting the contractual agreement of the DR load reduction and this is where an real time energy management system can help. 

 

Ideally a system will allow you to monitor, control and report on electricity use 24/7 and also manage the DR scenario when required.  This gives you the best of both worlds by optimizing electricity use all the time and verifying electricity billings for the maximum economic benefit of your Company.

 

Here are some steps to help you prepare for participating in a Demand Response Program.

 

1)  Identify which electrical loads can be reduced to meet the contracted target

2)  Plan in what order or priority the loads will be shed in order to meet the required target in the time frame alotted.
3)  Decide how you will notify key staff members that curtailment is pending or under way. Options include email, pages, walkie talkies,
     flashing lights, buzzers etc.

4)  Plan how the actual electrical loads will be reduced. Ie: manual load reduction, automated curtailment

5)  Identify the energy monitoring and reporting that will be required to ensure compliance and generate the necessary reports, including monetary reports so you will know how much you will receive for your curtailment scenario.

 

To ensure compliance and ensure maximum benefit from Demand Response Program participation it is best to have a fully automated real time Energy Management and Control System in operation and the system should handle all of the requirements listed above in order to make sure you get the maximum economic benefits.

 

A REAL TIME system is a system that monitors and controls electrical load on a minute by minute basis.  Our system also has the ability to retrieve timely electricity pricing data in order to log the price information into the data base with the usage information for each electricity metering point that is included in the system. Being able to quickly adjust load based on the minute by minute readings is a serious advantage that can provide additional monetary benefits.