Another perspective

摘要

Load research is the lynchpin of long-range utility planning and current utility operations-who's going to use how much energy and when. New smart technologies will bring an expanded role for load researchers and electric utilities in general; and both utilities and consumers will have new tools that will help the industry keep supply and demand in balance, meet the challenges of climate change, and defer generation construction.rnEnergy efficiency and demand response programs can reduce the need for building new generation, and utilities are enlisting customers to help them in the endeavor. A basic way to do this is through demand response. Utilities have used direct load control (dlc) to help cycle air-conditioners, water heaters, and other large devices to reduce peak demand. These programs provide consumers with a payment in exchange for the right of the utility to exert some control over when their large appliances would operate. Generally, consumers do not know when the utility exerts that control, nor do consumers have the ability to override it. Utilities also have used rate designs that give basic indications of on- and off-peak prices for the year, time-of-day rates, regardless of the actual cost of power on those 15 or so days a year when utilities experience their highest demand or supply costs.