Automated Demand Response Program
Heat waves suck. Especially when it requires paying for high electricity bills or suffering from power outages.
PG&E describes demand response as “both [a] fiscally and environmentally responsible way to respond to occasional and temporary peak demand periods” (PG&E). Essentially, the idea behind demand response is to save you both money and electricity by reducing peak load stress on the power grid in times of peak demand.
The concept is quite simple. When you turn on your air conditioner, a signal is sent to the power plant who in turn sends electricity to your device. During a heat wave, for example, thousands of people rely on these power plants for electricity. When these plants do not have the supply to keep up with the demand, rolling blackouts and power outages occur. Demand response is designed to reduce electricity output in an attempt to decease the chance of a shortage in energy.
In residential areas, participating in demand response is often voluntary. Utility companies ask individuals to “reduce your electricity usage during an “extreme” or “critical” event” (The Energy Collective) by installing “thermostats that can be controlled remotely by the utility in the event of an emergency, and/or by the customer with a mobile device” (The Energy Collective). This way, the utility company can shut off your power in an attempt to prevent a power outage or blackout during peak times.
By installing a demand response unit in your home, you are being a responsible consumer and are saving money in the long run. Often times, there are monetary incentives for consumers willing to opt-in to the program. For example, “Pacific Gas & Electric pays $25 to customers willing to participate in their Smart AC program, in which households with central air conditioning systems allow the utility to install a device that would allow the utility to turn down your cooling system in the event of an “energy supply emergency” in the summer, between May 1 and October 31″ (The Energy Collective).
Overall, demand for energy is only increasing, and we can only build so many power plants. Until a new form of energy is discovered, we need to find ways to conserve the energy we have. Over-usage of energy is a huge problem, and without taking action, most of us may be left without air-conditioning this summer.
If you want to help your community this summer, and save a little money while your at it, consider installing a demand response unit in your home or office.
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Demand+Response/
http://www.pge.com/mybusiness/energysavingsrebates/demandresponse/whatisdemandresponse/
I like how you used pictures from class!
Thank you!