Automated Shallow Demand Response Project
Project Number DR 05.02 Organization SCE End-use Other Sector Other Project Year(s) 2005 - 2006Project Summary
Typical demand response programs require curtailments of 15 percent of demand or 50 kilowatts (kW), whichever is greater, with some programs imposing heavy penalties for non-performance or underperformance. The rationale for automated shallow response project (ASDR) is that more flexible demand response programs would attract greater participation among smaller customers (below 500 kW), as well as larger customers, who find most demand response programs onerous or even prohibitive. Expanded participation could result in a significant grid-wide potential impact, notwithstanding the small per capita contributions. The pilot project had two primary objectives: • Explore the technical and economic feasibility of relaxing program requirements to single-digit percentages and automating the curtailment process. • Demonstrate pulse-scaling technology employed by a Packet Activated Smart Controller (PASCL), a controller developed specifically to harness energy management systems (EMS) for demand response. This technology biases the pulse signal received by a demand-limiting EMS from a meter, causing the EMS to shed load.