Evolving practice of demand-side management

The concept of demand-side management (DSM) was invented in the late 1970s along with the development of many of the frameworks in use to plan and implement it in the years immediately following. It was originally referred to as demand-side load management. It is generally defined as the planning and implementation of those activities designed to influence consumer use of electricity in ways that will result in changes in the utility’s load shape—i.e., changes in the time pattern and magnitude of a utility’s load. This paper describes the evolution it has undergone since its invention and some likely changes ahead. DSM largely originated in the U.S., but is practiced in various forms through the world today. This paper uses U.S. data as examples.