Load Management, Efficiency & Demand Response

3 steps to identifying best practices and efficiencies for gas utilities

Cost-reduction efforts often struggle because companies cannot easily compare operations and identify improvement opportunities across different LDCs or jurisdictions. The standardization of gas LDC processes can create significant value.

Sept. 19, 2022

Understanding potential consequence from asset ignited wildfires: it’s more than just ignition modeling

Energy utilities across the United States are challenged with reducing wildfire risk and increasing their reliability as part of their on-going operations.

By David Buckley, COO, Technosylva • Sept. 19, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management

Utilities are using a variety of new resources and connected devices to balance the grid and meet demand, drawing on everything from smart thermostats to large-scale batteries.

By Utility Dive staff

New York launches review of $10B in clean energy programs, focusing on energy efficiency and electrification

The review is particularly focused on energy efficiency and electrification efforts to aid low-income utility customers, according to the Public Service Commission.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2022

Real-time pricing, new rates and enabling technologies target demand flexibility to ease California outages

Price signals linked to power market needs through smart technologies could make distributed energy resources that are aggregated and automated by third parties an answer to California reliability threats, industry observers said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 13, 2022

To decarbonize industry, DOE road map focuses on efficiency, electrification and low-carbon fuels

A $104 million funding opportunity for decarbonization technologies accompanied the Biden administration’s release of the comprehensive industrial strategy.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 8, 2022

Arup, startup are building smart city modeling tools to maximize energy efficiency

With Matidor, the partners seek to help civil engineers see the environmental impact and energy efficiency of what they’re developing in real time.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 7, 2022

Slow adoption of smart thermostats in the US misses big potential energy savings: S&P

Inflation and concerns around extreme weather events are expected to help drive sales of the smart home technology this year, said analysts.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2022

Texas opens efficiency and demand response docket as NGO pushes for tougher utility targets, lower rewards

Texas utilities are exceeding their peak demand and energy savings targets, but those were last set a decade ago, say conservation advocates.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2022

Growing building sector carbon emissions threaten 2050 net-zero goal, report warns

U.S. economywide greenhouse gas emissions fell 12% from 2005 to 2019, but direct emissions from the building sector were higher, according to the report.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2022

State NEVI plans raise concerns about EV charging infrastructure rollout

Grid capacity, plus Buy America and matching fund requirements, are among states’ worries about the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, which aims to put charging stations every 50 miles along interstate highways.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 23, 2022

Data — An essential tool for utilities to prepare for extreme weather

Data helps utilities prepare for extreme weather by providing a clear visual picture of numerous interrelated aspects of power markets that informs actionable solutions.

Aug. 22, 2022

Pepco gets approval for $92M efficiency, demand response program in District of Columbia

The portfolio of nine load management programs has a total budget of approximately $92.4 million, and a third is allocated to programs benefiting low- and moderate-income customers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2022

MISO can improve reliability before building transmission

Well before MISO builds out its recently approved $10 billion transmission portfolio, it can avoid blackouts by boosting its operating reserves rather than keeping a singular focus on planning reserves, the authors write.

By Rao Konidena and Allison Bates Wannop • Aug. 15, 2022

Coordination between utilities and crypto miners — when does it make sense?

Some, but not too much, demand response can be a win-win for utilities and crypto miners, the authors contend.

By Steve Wright and Hassan Shaban • Aug. 11, 2022

New York public housing is poised for electric heating and cooling upgrades from a California startup

Vince Romanin, the CEO of Gradient, discusses the market for heat pumps and a New York City Housing Authority contract to rethink HVAC for residents vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 11, 2022

U.S. electricity sales to increase 2.5% this year, with average residential prices jumping 6.1%: EIA

The Energy Information Administration said Tuesday it expects wholesale power prices to climb in most regions this year, with prices up 90% in the PJM Interconnection’s Western hub.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2022

Building performance standards push grows amid electrification incentives, White House efforts

A Maryland county’s policy represents one of the only major updates so far, but more localities have said they’ll pursue standards. Funds in the Inflation Reduction Act could provide new incentives to decarbonize buildings.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 9, 2022

California becomes first state to roll out submetering technology to spur EV adoption

The decision is the culmination of a decade of efforts to develop submetering capabilities, California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds said at a meeting Thursday.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 8, 2022

Avangrid works to turn electric vehicles into a grid resource in Connecticut, New York

Avangrid officials say they are still developing best practices for electric vehicles and demand response. In Connecticut, the utility could call up to 15 events per month.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2022

NextEra’s ‘game-changing’ Real Zero emissions goal spurs questions about hydrogen, demand-side management

NextEra, the world’s biggest IOU by market cap, wants a “real” reduction of all carbon emissions by FPL, its regulated subsidiary, with solar, batteries and green hydrogen, but it will go without much help from the demand side.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2022

Electric heat pumps will be the cheapest clean option to heat most US homes by 2030: ACEEE

To advance the transition to carbon-free heating, ACEEE’s report calls for incentives and grants to support installation, minimum efficiency standards for heating equipment and other policies.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2022

New York City expands role in ConEd demand response program amid second week of stifling temperatures

The city’s increased participation can reduce peak energy demand by 115 MW, officials said. 

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2022

FirstEnergy proposes $626M Ohio grid modernization plan with smart meters, bidirectional EV chargers

The plan includes installation of 700,000 smart meters along with equipment to reduce the duration and frequency of outages.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2022

California launches rulemaking to expand electricity demand flexibility, amid threats to grid reliability

State regulators are considering updates to rate design principles, and streamlining California’s patchwork of rates and demand response programs.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 18, 2022

Texas expands industrial demand response program as grid goes to the brink of rolling outages

The state’s Emergency Response Service was deployed on Wednesday to reduce grid stress and a “substantial” portion of its budget was used, regulators said.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2022