Demand side management -- The role of the power utility

Abstract “Demand side management (DSM) is the deliberate influence of customer appliance selection and energy use patterns to achieve a desired impact or load shape consistent with company goals” (EPRI). Demand side management has two aspects: develop efficient utilization for electricity, (less electricity for each utilization), and take measures to encourage the customer to help flattening the load curve. The tariff policy conducted by the EDF towards the large customers connected to the high voltage and to the medium voltage networks is already very efficienty in flattening the load curve. This paper stresses a particular aspect of DSM: in the actions taken to extend this DSM policy to domestic customers, the same approach based on tariff incentives will be used. In the near future the domestic customer will have the possibility of choosing tarrifs which reflect the variations of the cost of electricity through the day and through the year. To be efficient this policy must rely on the development of products, which make energy management a very easy job for the customer. This is the reason why EDF is involved in the development of home automation technology. This technology will allow low cost communication between the customer meter and different systems in the home (like heating, lighting, domestic appliances). It will also allow the development of services concerning, for instance, security (burglary, fire, water leakages etc.). One of the highest priorities is put on efficient carrier current transmission. It is a backbone of EDF's policy in this matter: it allows transmission of “real time” tariff information from the utility to the customer's meter. It is then one of the media for transmission of information from the meter to all the equipment in the home (with the advantage of requiring no installation). Besides these technical developments, experiments are done to test the acceptance of customers of these new tariffs and services. This DSM policy, based on new technology, and on early testing of services with customers, will allow further improvement in the load curve, to the benefit of the customer and of the utility.