Posts filed under ‘demand response’
Smart grid comes home: Google buys Nest
Yesterday Google announced the purchase of Nest, a company that makes “smart” thermostats. Why would Google pay such a handsome price ($3.2 billion) for something as prosaic as thermostats? In short, because these devices may represent the single largest untapped energy management opportunity available — something that many utilities probably would gladly pay for. Not to mention, smart thermostats also provide a way to bring energy management inside the home.
Full post on Siemens Smart Grid Watch blog: Google’s Nest acquisition brings the smart grid closer to home
Europe: New EU guidelines should increase demand response
Last year the European Commission (part of the three-part EU government) published the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive — which set legally binding measures to step up Member States’ efforts to use energy more efficiently at all stages, from production to distribution to consumption. Last week, the EC explained more about how to implement the EED, by issuing additional guidance on energy efficiency to Europe’s Member States on energy efficiency.
Full post: New guidelines should increase demand response in Europe
Power grid resilience: how the smart grid can help
Resilience: it’s a hot topic on the exhibit floor and in the hallways at this week’sDistributech conference in San Diego.
Resilience means the ability of the power grid to withstand natural disasters and other attacks (think computer hacking or terrorism), as well as faster restoration after outages. Resilience also means withstanding disturbances and fluctuations on the grid caused by solar power, wind turbines, and even electric vehicle chargers. These things vary according to the vagaries of weather and whims of electricity consumers — in strong contrast to centrally controlled and operated power stations and transmission grids.
How can the smart grid help? Here are some options…
Full post: Why power grid resilience has people talking
Demand response comes to California wholesale power market
The energy industry has long recognized effective demand response (a key smart grid application) as the equivalent as the equivalent of a power generation asset. Now, a new California Public Utility Commission decision allows demand response “aggregators” to provide their services to the California Independent System Operator, the state’s wholesale market operator. This approach contrasts with many other states and countries, where direct participation by aggregators in the wholesale market is not permitted.
Full post: California electric market operator welcomes demand response
How to engage consumers? Proven strategies
When trying to engage consumers with energy information, details matter. That’s the main point of a new report from the Finnish research institute VaasaETT. VaasaETT conducted a qualitative investigation of nine exemplary utility programs from Australia, the U.S. and Europe. They found several common factors that appear to be crucial to program success…
Full post: Proven recipes for successful consumer engagement
New rules in Brazil support smart meter rollouts
This summer Brazil’s energy regulator ANEEL released its specifications for smart meter deployment. Contrary to expectations, ANEEL did not mandate a general smart meter rollout. Rather, the agency defined a set of rules and norms to achieve certain objectives — and smart meters are essential to achieve three key goals…
Full post, by Alicia Carrasco: Brazil: New rules will support smart meter rollouts
NSW, Australia: Smart meters, time-of-use prices could aid demand response
In the southern hemisphere, summertime is approaching — so temperatures and peak energy demand soon will be soaring in Sydney and other parts of the Australian state of New South Wales. A new report from the NSW government’s Productivity Commission recommends several reforms that could help Australian utilities manage peak demand while rewarding consumers for aiding this effort…
Full post: Hot Australian summers? Government commission recommends smart meters, time-of-use prices
The evolution of the smart grid
As the Smart Grid Watch blog now moves to the Siemens website, we begin a new chapter in the evolution of the smart grid. It is also a new chapter for eMeter, providing a new software focus for this global technology giant and smart grid leader.
It’s a good time to reflect on how the smart grid has evolved…
SDG&E helps Carlsbad, California residents save money with smart meters, automatically
Earlier this summer Smart Grid Watch reported on San Diego Gas & Electric’s groundbreaking ReduceYourUse Program. How well is it working?
According to SDG&E, in August customers in one small city in its service territory (Carlsbad, Calif.) earned over $200,000 in rebates.
Full post: How Carlsbad, California residents save money with smart meters, automatically
5 million households save by letting utilities control their air conditioners
Direct load control is one of the most common demand response strategies. It’s when a utility cycles off and on participating customers’ air conditioners or water heaters to reduce electricity demand during critical peak times (typically four hours on hot afternoons, about 10 days per year). These programs help utilities better manage their power supply while reducing costs for all customers since fewer power plants are needed to serve critical peak demand.
Early this year an E Source initiative started closely examining U.S. utility direct load control programs — 49 utilities running direct load control programs in 25 states…
Full post: 5 million households save by letting utilities control their air conditioners
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