Demand Response

PJM Interconnection said it saved $199 million last year -- an amount almost equal to its operating costs -- by increasing efficiency in how generation is scheduled to meet electric demand requirements, particularly, the scheduling of more costly combustion turbines used to meet demand shortfalls.

New opportunities to reduce energy costs are emerging each year. Demand response, for example, offers financial incentives direct to energy consumers in consideration for willingness to shape their energy usage differently over time, in a way that reduces the need for utilities to add very expensive new generating capacity.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is staking out the next frontier in the rapidly evolving U.S. energy industry. With more than 4 million smart meters deployed to date and an ongoing deployment of some 14,000 smart meters a day, PG&E is already driving the largest deployment of automated metering in the country. Now the utility is looking forward on several fronts to leverage this important investment to build a new, more sustainable energy future for Northern and Central California. (go to article  in T&D World)