Electric Utility Rate Design Study: demonstration of the use of the Westinghouse model LOOPEAK, Topic 6

This project demonstrated the use of the Westinghouse computer model LOOPEAK for evaluating the impact on an electric utility of the control of certain loads. The study used data from rural electric cooperative utilities in Ohio to make the demonstration as practicable as possible. Major conclusions reached are: (1) the model can provide a very valuable tool in assisting an electric utility in evaluating various load-management options and in developing a load-management program with an optimum return to the utility and its customers; (2) an iterative analysis can determine the optimum hours for peak-load pricing and the load or loads giving the maximum benefit if controlled; this is done on a dynamic basis to allow for future changes in the saturation, energy consumption, and patterns of use of loads being studied; (3) the model does not do complete future-facilities planning; rather, it provides accurate evaluation of possible load-management alternatives for input into more-sophisticated planning models; and (4) the model appears to have one weakness, i.e., its inability to use different rate structures in the same run.