Best Practice Guide

Local Governments

Demand Response

Control Devices

The demand for peak load can mean the need for more power plants unless cities and local governments can conserve enough energy to avoid building new power plants. Automatic shut-off devices for air conditioners, water heaters, and other energy-using devices can help to alleviate stress placed on the grid during peak load periods and they lower overall energy consumption as a result. Furthermore, reducing demand at peak hours actually reduces the amount of pollution caused by generating power at peak times, as base load energy sources used at peak times tend to pollute more than non-base load energy sources.

Check with your local utility to see if they offer peak-interruption or other load management programs. If not, consider advocating for such a program.

Steps for implementing control devices:

  1. Determine the types of energy-using devices you want to control. This will depend on whether energy use in your area tends to peak in the summer or winter.
  2. Determine if the program will be cost effective. Utilities will want to be assured that the program will pay for itself. Start by calculating how many participants you need for the project to break even.
  3. Decide if utilities will offer customers incentives, such as energy-efficient devices or discounted rates.
  4. Market the program to the public. Public awareness of the program is essential to its success. This can be done through distribution of printed collateral, radio and newspaper advertising, and contacting customers directly.
  5. Track the program’s success. Run tests to determine actual system peak reductions.


Resources

Building Sustainable Communities: An Environmental Guide for Local Government: Energy: Efficiency and Production, The Global Cities Projectâ„¢. Center for the Study of Law and Politics, July 1991.