Through the use of power grids, electricity is delivered when you want and need to use it. The general idea of how electricity is generated is that it starts from a power plant and is transmitted to different substations in local areas where it is turned into usable voltage. And through intricate webs of transmission lines with high voltage, electricity is delivered into wherever it is needed. That is “the grid”. Following that, another basic term leading up to what exactly Demand Response is, is that a time when many people want to use electricity simultaneously, it is technically referred to as peak usage time.
A Power Grid Used to Deliver Electricity to Consumers
Demand response is a way to lower the consumers’ usage of electricity in general. Different programs for demand response is about people cutting down on electricity either during a specific time of the day, or when electricity prices go up, etc. Demand Response programs can range from residential,to larger commercial and industrial customers. In terms of residential users, it is voluntary for them to “sign up” and participate in the program.
Generally, demand response is a term used in reference to the mechanisms created to encourage consumers to reduce their use of electricity–leading to the reduction of peak demand for electricity. Although electrical generation and transmission systems are usually programmed to correspond to the “peak demand”, overall costs and requirements would lower with demand response programs used to lower the peak demand.
Demand Response Programs are for the Conservation of Energy
There are three different types of demand response:
- Emergency Demand Response
- Economic Demand Response
- Ancillary Services Demand Response
Emergency demand response if used to avoid involuntary electrical service interruptions when supply is scarce. Economic demand response is used to allow electricity customers to reduce their usage when the convenience of electricity is less important than paying for it. Ancillary services demand response includes a number of services needed to ensure the secure operating of the transmission grid which were originally provided by the generators at power plants.
Sources:
http://theenergycollective.com/petertroast/63790/demand-response-what-it-what-it-means-you
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/demand-response.htm
http://www.energydsm.com/demand-response/