PEC Smart Grid Pilot

Ron Rundstedtron.rundstedt@peci.com

830.868.6034

PEC is the nation’s largest electric cooperative, providing service to approximately 242,000 members in the Texas hill country.

Pilot Objectives• Explore Smart Grid technology to help reach Board

Conservation goal of 20% reduction• Inform and empower our members to manage

their energy usage• Demonstrate ability to reduce demand during

peak periods• Demonstrate benefits of Smart Grid program to

PEC, LCRA, and ERCOT• Determine true program cost and benefits • Survey member satisfaction

Pilot Scope• 100+ residential participants• 2 small commercial participants• Pilot participants all on same feeder• Installed smart meter, and control devices on

air conditioners and water heaters, to enable two-way communication to PEC control center; participant maintained control over appliances

• PEC controlled appliances during peak periods• Pilot was operated for one year

Consert Virtual Peak Plant (VPP)

Device ControllerWater Heater, Pool Pump

Verizon Wireless Data

Meter / Gateway

Consert Operations Center

Thermostat

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

• Load management information for all program participants is displayed in a single dashboard that PEC uses to view the aggregation of all pilot participants’ energy usage displayed in the form of ‘Available’ load

• An energy management solution that allows PEC to control load management resources as if it was a peaking plant

• During times of peak demand, PEC initiated control events that successfully reduced peak demand for the participants

Utility VPP Dashboard

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Participant Profiles

•Participants create their custom usage profile by answering a series of lifestyle questions which ensures their profile conforms to their comfort needs

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Schedules

• The schedule that is created can be changed at any time

• The system is web accessible from virtually anywhere, including smart phones

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Energy Display

•Energy usage is displayed by device

•Can zoom in for more granularity

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Knowledge Center•Information that helps participants obtain the most benefit from their energy management programs

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Groups

• Can create groups and run targeted events:– Substation/Feeder– Subdivision– High energy users– Residential/Commercial– HVAC/water

heater/pool pump– All participants

Consert Proprietary & Confidential

Winter Control Event

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

Energy Usage Similar Day vs. Feb. 11th, 2011 (Controlled)

4-Feb 11-Feb

Watt

hou

r

Savings : 4.38 % 5:17 - 8:30 34.90 % 8:30 - 10:30 -30.52 %

4-Feb 11-Feb

05:17 AM to 8:30 AM EST 119,713 77,938

Savings 41,775

Percentage 34.90%

8:30 AM to 10:30 AM EST 50,254 65,592

Savings (15,338)

Percentage -30.52%

Net Savings 4.38%

Temperature 4-Feb 11-FebHigh 44 44

Low 21 23

Average 31 31

Event ID Participants Opted Out

832 19 3

Summer Control Event

Consumption Summary: Comparison ControlSummary: 9-Jul 8-Jul

Hourly Breakdown Wh Wh Savings % kWh

4:31 PM to 5:00 PM EST 67,522 2,971 64,551 95.60% 64.55

CE Sub Total 67,522 2,971 64,551 95.60% 64.55

5:01 PM to 6:00 PM EST 136,179 99,476 36,703 26.95% 36.70

6:01 PM to 7:00 PM EST 119,314 146,987 (27,673) -23.19% -27.67

2 Hrs After Sub Total 255,493 246,463 9,030 3.53% 9.03

Totals 323,015 249,434 73,581 22.78% 73.58

OT 9-Jul 8-JulHigh 98 98

Low 75 73

Average 86 86

Event ID Participants Opt Out Temp OutTotal 44 8 0

14:00

14:2014:40

15:0015:20

15:4016:00

16:2016:40

17:0017:20

17:4018:00

18:2018:40

19:0019:20

19:4020:00

20:200

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

Energy Usage Similar Day vs. Jul 8th, 2011 (Controlled)

9-Jul 8-JulWatt Hour

Watt

Summer Control EventConsumption Summary: Comparison ControlSummary: 12-Jul 13-Jul

Hourly Breakdown Wh Wh Savings % kWh

4:31 PM to 5:00 PM EST 71,188 9,442 61,747 86.74% 61.75

5:01 PM to 5:15 PM EST 35,570 6,490 29,080 81.75% 29.08

CE Sub Total

106,758 15,932 90,826 85.08% 90.83

5:16 PM to 6:15 PM EST

147,548 130,281 17,267 11.70% 17.27

6:16 PM to 7:15 PM EST

141,814 148,991

(7,177) -5.06% -7.18

2 Hrs After Sub Total

289,362 279,271 10,091 3.49% 10.09

Totals

396,120 295,203 100,917 25.48% 100.92

OT 12-Jul 13-JulHigh 98 98Low 75 75

Average 86 86

Event ID Participants Opt Out Temp Out910 55 11 5

14:00

14:1514:30

14:4515:00

15:1515:30

15:4516:00

16:1516:30

16:4517:00

17:1517:30

17:4518:00

18:1518:30

18:4519:00

19:1519:30

19:4520:00

20:1520:30

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

Energy Usage Similar Day vs. Jul 13th, 2011 (Controlled)

12-Jul 13-Jul

Watt Hour

Watt

Surveys• Post-Installation

• Post-Winter Curtailment Season

• Post-Summer Curtailment Season

Participant Feedback• Overall satisfaction with the program incrementally

increased over the life of the pilot• User experience with the temperature/thermostat is the

most important factor influencing dissatisfaction levels• More participants were aware of the summer events

than winter• Overall, participants want to help the utility better

manage their energy resources• Respondents indicated that the equipment installer was

an important source of information

Costs

• Capital Costs – meter with gateway, device controller(s), thermostat(s), installation

• O&M Expenses – data communication costs per meter, repairs/replacements

Benefits• Participants

– Potential energy savings– Individual profiles– Increased visibility– Manage devices from anywhere– Can opt out of events

• PEC– Reduce energy usage– Lower 4CP – lower costs– Increased customer interaction/satisfaction

• LCRA– Demand management– Decrease infrastructure/costs

• ERCOT– Maintain grid reliability– Decrease costs

Recommendations• Recruiting/marketing– Create a comprehensive marketing campaign– Leverage members’ want to help the utility better manage

energy resources– Emphasize the energy savings, and control through internet– Ensure participants have internet access

• Installation– Standardize process– Train installers– Welcome package, installer able to answer questions

Recommendations Cont’d• Participant education– Communication should refer to reference materials– Consider online video training– Specifically explain control events, and what is expected– Provide details on thermostat usage, and online

controls/programming– Periodic releases to manage satisfaction and knowledge– Include energy savings tips– Leverage customer affinity to reduce opt out rates

• Operations– Monitor opt out rates, minimize impact– Optimize event duration/quantity removed

Controllable Load Resource (CLR)• Consert certification as an ERCOT CLR– Proof of Concept (POC) Test Phase 1• Regulation Up Service• Responsive Reserve Service• Non-Spinning Reserve Service

– POC Test Phase 2• Primary Frequency Response• ICCP Link• Automated dispatch• Data

– CLR Test

Live Demonstration

• http://pec30.consert.com/secure/login

• http://pec30-utility.consert.com/login

Questions?