{"id":11310,"date":"2015-10-05T14:31:39","date_gmt":"2015-10-05T19:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=11310"},"modified":"2015-12-21T12:40:26","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T18:40:26","slug":"a-stealth-tool-to-modernize-the-electric-grid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2015\/10\/05\/a-stealth-tool-to-modernize-the-electric-grid\/","title":{"rendered":"A Stealth Tool to Modernize the Electric Grid"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Electricity regulators<\/a>, clean energy innovators, and rappers<\/a> have all lamented poor communication. And some have pushed<\/a> for cleaner, cheaper, more reliable solutions<\/a> for meeting our energy needs. This is particularly so with the much anticipated emergence of a new kind of non-event based, price-responsive demand response (DR), or flexible DR.<\/p>\n

Whereas traditional DR<\/a> signals customers to voluntarily and temporarily reduce their energy use at times when the electric grid is stressed, this type of DR does that and more. The big difference? It signals customers, their appliances, and their electric vehicles to increase<\/em> their energy use when electricity is clean, plentiful, and cheap.<\/p>\n

For example, electric vehicles can be programmed to charge at mid-day when the sun is bright and solar energy is at its peak, and use that stored energy when the sun sets.\u00a0Better yet, many of our cars, homes, and appliances can be programmed to monitor grid conditions in real time, via the Internet, and respond accordingly by charging or defecting. Also known as a \u201cset-it-and-forget-it\u201d feature, this function enables the seamless integration of flexible DR while also supporting the full potential of energy efficiency measures and distributed energy resources (DERs), like rooftop solar and energy storage.<\/p>\n

The seamless and stealth nature of this type of DR, which can be largely automated by tools and service providers, is something neither the customer nor the utility have to think about. It\u2019s like a secret agent, operating behind walls and wires to find the greatest energy (and cost) saving-potential. Regulators need to unleash this \u201csecret agent DR\u201d by rewarding it fairly and efficiently in the energy marketplace, giving it a \u201clicense to thrill\u201d in households and businesses across California.<\/p>\n

Flexible demand response delivers serious benefits <\/strong><\/p>\n

The good news is, this innovative form of DR aligns with times of the day when electricity is cheap and demand is high. That is, solar and wind will be plentiful at times when customers generally desire to use energy. This element of flexible DR brings some serious benefits to California\u2019s electric grid, environment, and people, including its ability to:<\/p>\n