A System for Peak Demand Reduction
Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 6/1/2007
The utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has chosen Cooper Power Systems, a division of Cooper Industries, Ltd., to provide a system for peak demand reduction designed for PG&E's residential and small commercial customers.
The solution will enable PG&E to gain at least five megawatts of clean energy capacity by June 15, 2007, and can be expanded to ultimately provide more than 300 megawatts of clean energy capacity by 2010, subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission. This provides PG&E with a solution that integrates an operating software platform with smart communicating thermostats and control switches. Using a wireless communication network, the system will reduce electrical demand at thousands of air conditioning units during times of maximum demand, thereby enhancing grid reliability and reducing brownouts and rolling blackouts.
