Full Title: Greater Engagement for Improved Demand Response
Author(s): StudioID
Publisher(s): ecobee
Publication Date: March 30, 2023
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Utilities are well aware of climate risks, and they’re actively developing solutions to improve grid resilience. That includes looking at new solutions to improve existing load flexibility and demand response (DR) approaches. Utilities already rely on customer participation in DR programs to shift electricity away from periods of peak demand. But traditional DR programs often come with barriers to participation. For example, they may require the customer to enter their utility account number, which customers may
not know how to locate, let alone have readily available, at the time of enrollment. They also require reading and accepting program terms and conditions, which can be intimidating and sometimes a deterrent to customer participation. Or customers may simply not be interested in a program that they perceive as helping utilities make or save money.
But there are approaches to DR that can avoid these barriers to entry. An innovative pilot program from smart thermostat company ecobee and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) in 2022 demonstrated how utilities can expand the pool of resources to complement traditional DR programs, giving every asset in their fleet value and ultimately improving grid resiliency and stability.