Multi-Utility Effort

RMI is part of a multi-year, multi-utility effort to pilot and evaluate the performance and economics of the Automated Demand Response System (ADRS), a residential price response program in California using advanced load management technology. The technology is an always-on residential load management system capable of reliably controlling air conditioning, pool pumps, and other major loads in the home in response to price variations throughout the day. RMI contributed to the program design and has led the impact analysis, which includes measurement of the range of demand response observed in homes using ADRS and the resulting electric capacity savings, as well as a cost-benefit analysis assuming a large-scale deployment of the technology statewide. ADRS is also part of a larger, statewide pilot in California to test the efficacy of homes responding to time-varying, critical peak prices using a range of technology treatments. The utilities involved included: Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Invensys Intelligent Home Controls. For more information, see: RMI Solutions, summer 2004.