FERC 2016 Assessment of Demand Report

FERC-733 Assessment of Demand Response 12.16.pdf

FERC-733, Demand Response/Time-Based Rate Programs and Advanced Metering

FERC 2016 Assessment of Demand Report

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2016
Assessment of
Demand Response and Advanced Metering

Staff Report

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
December 2016

The opinions and views expressed in this staff report do not necessarily represent those of the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, its Chairman, or individual Commissioners, and are not binding on the
Commission.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Staff Team
Michael P. Lee, Team Lead
Ben Foster
David Kathan
Meghan O’Brien
April Park
Samin Peirovi

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 : Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 2 : Saturation and penetration rate of advanced meters ................................................ 3
Developments and issues in advanced metering..................................................................... 5
Collaborative industry-government efforts ......................................................................... 5
State legislative and regulatory activity .............................................................................. 5
Chapter 3 : Annual resource contribution of demand resources ............................................... 14
Chapter 4 : Potential for demand response as a quantifiable, reliable resource for regional
planning purposes ..................................................................................................................... 18
Chapter 5 : Existing demand response programs and time-based rate programs and steps taken
to ensure that, in regional transmission planning and operations, demand resources are
provided equitable treatment as a quantifiable, reliable resource relative to the resource
obligations of any load-serving entity, transmission provider, or transmitting party ............... 19
FERC demand response orders and activities ....................................................................... 21
Other federal demand response activities ............................................................................. 23
White House Council of Economic Advisers ................................................................... 23
Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 ................................................................... 23
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: RICE Rule ........................................................ 24
U.S. Department of Defense ............................................................................................. 24
U.S. General Services Administration .............................................................................. 25
U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs .............................................................................. 26
State legislative and regulatory activities related to demand response ................................. 26
Chapter 6 : Regulatory barriers to improved customer participation in demand response, peak
reduction, and critical period pricing programs ........................................................................ 33

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LIST OF TABLES & FIGURES
Table 2-1: Estimates of Advanced Meter Penetration Rates .......................................................... 3
Table 2-2: Estimated Advanced Meter Penetration by Region and Customer Class (2014) .......... 4
Table 3-1: Potential Peak Reduction from Retail Demand Response Programs by NERC Region
(2013 & 2014) ............................................................................................................................... 14
Table 3-2: Potential Peak Reduction (MW) from Retail Demand Response Programs by Region
and Customer Class (2014) ........................................................................................................... 15
Table 3-3: Potential Peak Reduction from U.S. ISO and RTO Demand Response Programs ..... 17
Table 5-1: Customer Enrollment in Incentive-based Demand Response Programs, by NERC
Region (2013 & 2014) .................................................................................................................. 20
Table 5-2: Customer Enrollment in Time-based Demand Response Programs, by NERC Region
(2013 & 2014) ............................................................................................................................... 21

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Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering

December 2016

FERC Staff Report

ASSESSMENT OF DEMAND RESPONSE AND ADVANCED METERING
Pursuant to Energy Policy Act of 2005 section 1252(e)(3)

December 2016

Chapter 1: Introduction
This report is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff’s (FERC or Commission staff’s)
eleventh annual report on demand response and advanced metering required by section
1252(e)(3) of Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005). It is based on publicly-available
information and discussions with market participants and industry experts. Based on the
information reviewed, it appears that:
•

•
•

•

Deployment of advanced meters continues to increase throughout the country, 1 and
advanced meters are the predominant metering technology installed and operational
throughout the United States. According to the Energy Information Administration
(EIA), 2 58.5 million advanced meters were operational nationwide out of a total of 144.3
million meters, indicating a 40.6 percent penetration rate;
In the organized wholesale markets, the contribution of potential peak reduction 3 to
meeting peak demand increased to 6.6 percent in 2015 from 6.2 percent in 2014;
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has developed and
approved four new metrics for assessing demand response, and intends to continue its
efforts to improve demand response data collection to provide information on how
demand response contributes to reliability;
The North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) developed and ratified voluntary
business standards that facilitate the ability of advanced meters and other utility and

1
As defined by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Advanced Metering Infrastructure
(AMI) Meters are

“Meters that measure and record usage data at a minimum, in hourly intervals and provide usage data at
least daily to energy companies and may also provide data to consumers. Data are used for billing and other
purposes. Advanced meters include basic hourly interval meters and extend to real-time meters with built-in twoway communication capable of recording and transmitting instantaneous data.”
See EIA, Form EIA-861: Annual Electric Power Industry Report Instructions, available at
http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_861/instructions.pdf.
2
EIA, Form EIA-861 Advanced_Meters_2014 data file (re-released January 13, 2016).
3 Potential peak reduction (or potential peak demand savings) refers to “the total demand savings that could
occur at the time of the system peak hour assuming all demand response is called.” EIA, Form EIA-861
Instructions, Schedule 6, Part B.

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Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering

third-party grid devices to communicate directly with each other and exchange
information; and
On January 25, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in FERC v. Electric
Power Supply Association, upholding the Commission’s authority under the Federal
Power Act to adopt Order No. 745. 4

The report addresses the six requirements included in section 1252(e)(3) of EPAct 2005, which
directs the Commission to identify and review:
(A) saturation and penetration rate of advanced meters and communications technologies,
devices and systems (Chapter 2);
(B) existing demand response programs and time-based rate programs (Chapter 5);
(C) the annual resource contribution of demand resources (Chapter 3);
(D) the potential for demand response as a quantifiable, reliable resource for regional
planning purposes (Chapter 4);
(E) steps taken to ensure that, in regional transmission planning and operations, demand
resources are provided equitable treatment as a quantifiable, reliable resource relative to
the resource obligations of any load-serving entity, transmission provider, or
transmitting party (Chapter 5); and
(F) regulatory barriers to improved customer participation in demand response, peak
reduction and critical period pricing programs (Chapter 6).

4

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136 S. Ct. 760 (2016) (“EPSA”)

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Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering

December 2016

Chapter 2: Saturation and penetration rate of advanced meters
This chapter reports on penetration rates for advanced meters, and developments related to
advanced metering. As summarized in Table 2-1, recent data indicate that advanced meter
penetration rates and the number of advanced meters in operation continue to increase in the
United States. This trend is robust across several data sets.
Table 2-1: Estimates of Advanced Meter Penetration Rates

Data Source
2008 FERC Survey
2010 FERC Survey
2012 FERC Survey
2011 Form EIA-861 (re-released)
Institute for Electric Efficiency
2012 Form EIA-861
Institute for Electric Innovation
2013 Form EIA-861 (re-released)
Institute for Electric Innovation
2014 Form EIA-861

Data As
Of
Dec 2007
Dec 2009
Dec 2011
Dec 2011
May 2012
Dec 2012
July 2013
Dec 2013
July 2014
Dec 2014

Number of
Advanced
Meters
(millions)
6.7 1
12.8 2
38.1 3
37.3 4
35.7 5
43.2 6
45.8 7
51.9 8
50.1 9
58.5 10

Total
Number of
Meters
(millions)
144.4 1
147.8 2
166.5 3
144.5 4
144.5 4
145.3 6
145.3 6
138.1 8
138.1 8
144.3 10

Advanced Meter
Penetration Rates
(advanced meters as a
% of total meters)
4.7%
8.7%
22.9%
25.8%
24.7%
29.7%
31.5%
37.6%
36.3%
40.6%

Sources:
1 FERC, Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering staff report (December 2008).
2 FERC, Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering staff report (February 2011).
3 FERC, Assessment of Demand Response and Advanced Metering staff report (December 2012).
4 EIA, Form EIA-861 file_2_2011 and file_8_2011 (re-released May 20, 2014). The number of ultimate customers served by
full-service and energy-only providers is used as a proxy for the total number of meters. Advanced meters are defined as
advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters.
5 The Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Efficiency, Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments, Plans & Proposals (May
2012).
6 EIA, Form EIA-861 and Form EIA-861S: retail_sales_2012 and advanced_meters_2012 data files (October 29, 2013). The
number of ultimate customers served by full-service and energy-only providers is used as a proxy for the total number of
meters. Advanced meters are defined as AMI meters.
7 The Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation, Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments: A Foundation for
Expanded Grid Benefits (August 2013).
8 EIA, Form EIA-861: Advanced_Meters_2013 data file (re-released June 8, 2015). The number of total meters—including
AMI, AMR and standard electromechanical meters—was reported for the first time in 2013. Therefore, we no longer use the
number of customers as a proxy. See note 4 above and Form EIA-861Annual Electric Power Industry Report Instructions,
Schedule 6, Part D, available at http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_861/proposed/2013/instructions.pdf.
9 The Edison Foundation Institute for Electric Innovation, Utility-Scale Smart Meter Deployments: Building Block Of The
Evolving Power Grid (September 2014).
10 EIA, Form EIA-861: Advanced_Meters_2014 data file (re-released January 13, 2016).
Note: Commission staff has not independently verified the accuracy of EIA or Edison Foundation data. Values from source
data are rounded for publication.

According to 2014 EIA data, 5 58.5 million advanced meters were operational nationwide out of a
total of 144.3 million meters, indicating a 40.6 percent penetration rate. This penetration of
advanced meters represents significant growth over the previous year, when EIA reported that
5

EIA, Form EIA-861 Advanced_Meters_2014 data file (re-released January 13, 2016).

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51.9 million advanced meters were operational out of a total of 138.1 million meters,
representing a 37.6 percent penetration rate. 6
Table 2-2 below provides estimated advanced metering penetration rates by NERC region 7 and
retail customer class. Advanced meters represent more than half of the meters in three regions:
79.7 percent of meters in Texas Reliability Entity (TRE), 60.4 percent in Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC), and 56.9 percent in Florida Reliability Coordinating Council
(FRCC). The largest growth in advanced meter penetration from 2013 to 2014 took place in
ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RFC) and SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC), which saw
increases of approximately 7 and 9 percentage points, respectively.
Table 2-2: Estimated Advanced Meter Penetration by Region and Customer Class (2014)
Region
AK
FRCC
HI
MRO
NPCC
RFC
SERC
SPP
TRE
WECC
Unspecified
All Regions

Residential

9.6%
56.3%
6.0%
18.8%
9.6%
31.7%
36.0%
40.4%
79.5%
60.6%
21.9%
40.9%

Customer Class
Commercial
Industrial

3.6%
61.7%
7.0%
16.1%
9.4%
23.4%
33.2%
39.5%
82.7%
59.0%
21.4%
38.6%

0.0%
74.5%
19.9%
22.4%
15.7%
16.6%
32.5%
33.6%
43.7%
54.0%
70.4%
36.5%

All Classes

8.8%
56.9%
6.1%
18.5%
9.6%
30.8%
35.6%
40.2%
79.7%
60.4%
22.8%
40.6%

Sources: EIA, 2014 Form EIA-861 Advanced_Meters_2014 data file.
Note: Although some entities may operate in more than one NERC Region, EIA data have only
one NERC region designation per entity. The "unspecified" category represents respondents to the
EIA-861 short form, which were not required to report a NERC region. Commission staff has not
independently verified the accuracy of EIA data.

Overall, Table 2-2 above indicates a slightly higher percentage of residential customers have an
advanced meter (40.9 percent) than do customers in the commercial (38.6 percent) or industrial
(36.5 percent) customer classes.

6

Id. EIA data also reveals that advanced meters are now the predominant metering technology installed
and operational throughout the United States.
7
NERC comprises eight regional entities in the lower 48 states: the Florida Reliability Coordinating
Council (FRCC), Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC),
ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RFC), SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC), Southwest Power Pool RE (SPP), Texas
Reliability Entity (TRE), and Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). The states of Alaska (AK) and
Hawaii (HI) are not subject to NERC oversight.

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December 2016

Developments and issues in advanced metering
Collaborative industry-government efforts
On March 7, 2016, NAESB developed and ratified 8 voluntary business standards 9 that facilitate
the ability of advanced meters and other utility and third-party grid devices (e.g., relays,
inverters, reclosers) to communicate directly with each other and exchange information. 10 With
the proliferation of intelligent devices with a variety of communication protocols newly deployed
within substations and transmission and distribution lines, these standards, NAESB’s Open Field
Message Bus (OpenFMB) Model Business Practices, facilitate the resolution of data delay
issues, improve situational awareness and interoperability requirements, 11 and provide for
“distributed intelligence opportunities to manage local grids in the most efficient way based on
local resources and conditions.” 12 Participants in the standards development process included
the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 13
State legislative and regulatory activity
Electric utilities continue to deploy advanced meters and are developing new energy services and
technologies, including mobile applications that enable customers to view their energy
consumption, interact with utilities, and manage their electricity bills. Some utilities are
experimenting with different pilot programs to encourage customer engagement and facilitate the
incorporation of demand response technologies through advanced metering infrastructure.
•

Alabama. In February 2016, Baldwin County Electric Membership Corporation
(Baldwin EMC), the largest cooperative electric utility in Alabama, 14 initiated

8 The NAESB process is open to any interested party, and parties can participate and contribute to the
standards development regardless of NAESB membership status.
9
Press Release, NAESB Announcement Concerning the Open Field Message Bus Model Business
Practices, NAESB, March 15, 2016, available at https://www.naesb.org//pdf4/031516press_release.pdf.
10
Duke Energy, Leading Advancements in Interoperability: Open Field Message Bus (OpenFMBTM)
Interoperability Framework with a Microgrid Implementation, Jan. 2016, p. 3, available at https://www.dukeenergy.com/pdfs/interoperability-brochure.pdf.
11
NAESB, 2015 Retail Annual Plan Item 9.a/R14008: Develop model business practices to support
OpenFMB architecture for interoperable data exchange between distributed power systems devices on the electric
grid’s field area networks, Ratified March 7, 2016, pp. 5=6, available at https://www.naesb.org/pdf/ordrform.pdf.
12
Duke Energy, Leading Advancements in Interoperability: Open Field Message Bus (OpenFMBTM)
Interoperability Framework with a Microgrid Implementation, Jan. 2016, p. 3.
13
Press Release, NAESB Announcement Concerning the Open Field Message Bus Model Business
Practices, NAESB, March 15, 2016, available at https://www.naesb.org//pdf4/031516press_release.pdf.
14
“Baldwin EMC Recognized by CS Week for Advanced Metering, Load Management Projects,” Baldwin
EMC, (May 10, 2016), available at http://www.baldwinemc.com/baldwin-emc-recognized-by-cs-week-foradvanced-metering-load-management-projects/.

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deployment of 20,000 advanced meters. 15 Baldwin EMC serves over 73,000
customers. 16
•

Arizona. The Arizona Public Service Company (APS) filed a rate case application on
June 1, 2016, that included a proposed advanced meter opt-out fee ($70 for set up and
$15 per month meter reading fee). 17 APS included the advanced meter opt-out fee in
response to the Arizona Corporation Commission’s (ACC) decision to include
consideration of advanced meter opt-out fees as a component of the ACC’s
comprehensive review of the APS general rate case. 18

•

Colorado. On August 3, 2016, Xcel Energy filed a request with the Colorado Public
Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve a $500 million project proposal that would
replace all retail meters with advanced meters. 19 The proposed project is scheduled to
roll out the advanced meters from 2017 to 2021, pending Colorado PUC approval. 20
Xcel serves approximately 1.4 million electricity customers throughout Colorado. 21

•

Connecticut. The Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC)
deployed over 38,000 advanced meters as of June 2015. 22 The deployment is part of a
smart grid project (ConnSMART Program) that includes four municipal utilities. 23 The
CMEEC intends to provide all customers with access to advanced meters, with the goal
of realizing operational efficiencies, improving service reliability, and enhancing
customer service. 24

15
“Baldwin EMC Begins Deploying Landis+Gyr Load Management System,” Landis+Gyr, (February 15,
2016), available at http://www.landisgyr.com/baldwin-emc-begins-deploying-landisgyr-load-management-system/.
16
Baldwin EMC, 2014 Annual Report, October 2015, available at http://www.baldwinemc.com/wpcontent/uploads/52624-BEMC-AnnReport-proof4.pdf.
17
In the Matter of the Application of Arizona Public Service Company for a Hearing to Determine the Fair
Value of the Utility Property of the Company for Ratemaking Purposes, to Fix a Just and Reasonable Rate of Return
Thereon, to Approve Rate Scheduled Designed to Develop such Return, Arizona Public Service Company Rate
Application, Docket No. E-01345A-16-0036 (ACC June 1, 2016), available at
http://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000170846.pdf.
18
In the Matter of the Application of Arizona Public Service Company for Approval of Automated Meter
Opt-Out Service Schedule 17, Decision No. 75047, Docket No. E-01345A-13-0069, (ACC Apr. 30, 2015), pp. 1617, available at http://images.edocket.azcc.gov/docketpdf/0000160782.pdf.
19
Xcel proposes massive, $500 million upgrade of Colorado electric meters, (Denver Business Journal
August 3, 2016), available at http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2016/08/xcel-energyproposes-massive-500m-upgradeof.html?ana=RSS%26s%3Darticle_search&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3
A+bizj_denver+%28Denver+Business+Journal%29.
20
Xcel proposes massive, $500 million upgrade of Colorado electric meters, (Denver Business Journal
August 3, 2016).
21
Who We Are, (Xcel Energy 2016), available at
https://www.xcelenergy.com/company/corporate_responsibility_report/who_we_are.
22
Smart Grid Investment Grant Final Project Description, Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy
Cooperative Smart Grid Project at 1, (U.S. DOE, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability June 2015).
23
Id.
24
Id.

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December 2016

•

Florida. Florida Power & Light (FPL) restored power to more than 110,000
customers affected by Hurricane Hermine within 24 hours. 25 FPL credits investments in
system hardening, infrastructure upgrades, and technological investments, including
advanced meters, in reducing the number of customer outages and faster service
restoration.

•

Hawaii. The Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company Inc.,
and Maui Electric Company, Ltd., filed an application with the Hawaii Public Utilities
Commission (PUC) for the approval to commit funds for the Smart Grid Foundation
Project, to defer certain costs, and to recover capital and deferred costs through a
Renewable Energy Infrastructure Surcharge. 26 The companies estimate a cost of $340
million to implement the project, with roughly $180 million of that dedicated to advanced
meter infrastructure in the first phase of the project. The proposal includes deployment
of advanced meters across all five of the companies’ service territory islands (Oahu,
Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i). The companies target advanced meter
installations for more than 97 percent of their customers (equal to approximately 467,000
installations). 27

•

Illinois. In March 2016, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) ordered Ameren
Illinois and Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) to provide customers with
electronic access to their own electricity usage data gathered through advanced meters. 28
The ICC order establishes a process by which consumers can obtain and control access to
their electricity data, prescribing a standardized authorization form and the Green Button
Connect My Data program 29 as the method of electronic delivery. 30

•

Indiana. In December 2015, after reaching a settlement with various parties, Duke
Energy filed a seven-year transmission, distribution, and storage system improvement

25

News Release, Florida Power & Light, Florida Power & Light Company completes service restoration to
customers affected by Hurricane Hermine in line with pre-storm commitment, Sept. 3, 2016, available at
http://newsroom.fpl.com/2016-09-03-Florida-Power-Light-Company-completes-service-restoration-to-customersaffected-by-Hurricane-Hermine-in-line-with-pre-storm-commitment.
26
In the Matter of the Application of the Hawaiian Electric Companies for Approval to Commit Funds in
Excess of $2,500,00 for the Smart Grid Foundation Project and Related Requests. Docket No. 2016-0087, (Hawaii
PUC March 31, 2016), available at
https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/Documents/clean_energy_hawaii/smart_grid/dkt_20160087_20160331_SGF_project_book_1.pdf.
27
In the Matter of the Application of the Hawaiian Electric Companies for Approval to Commit Funds in
Excess of $2,500,00 for the Smart Grid Foundation Project and Related Requests. Docket No. 2016-0087 at 25,
(Hawaii PUC March 31, 2016).
28
Investigation into the Customer Authorization Required for Access by Third Parties Other Than Retail
Electric Suppliers to Advanced Metering Infrastructure Interval Meter Data, Order No.15-0073, (ICC March 23,
2016), available at https://www.icc.illinois.gov/downloads/public/edocket/424241.pdf.
29
The Green Button Connect My Data program allows customers to automatically send their energy usage
data to third-party providers, giving customers additional options on how to view and use their energy usage data.
30
ICC, Infrastructure Investment Plans, available at
https://www.icc.illinois.gov/electricity/utilityreporting/InfrastructureInvestmentPlans.aspx.

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plan with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (URC). 31 As part of the proposal,
Duke Energy agrees to reduce the level of capital investment recovered through
customers’ monthly bills, including $192 million for advanced meters. 32 Duke Energy
retains the ability to pursue advanced meters and defer the associated costs for Indiana
URC consideration in a future rate case rather than through a monthly bill tracker, and
also agrees to explore energy efficiency pilot programs if it pursues advanced meters in
the future. 33 In a June 29, 2016 order, the Indiana URC approved the plan. 34
•

Kansas. On September 24, 2015, the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) approved
Westar Energy’s Stipulation & Agreement, 35 which will replace all analog meters with
advanced meters over a period of five years. 36 As of December 31, 2015, Westar had
installed 250,000 advanced meters, which benefitted customers by providing timely
service without sending out trucks on 91,000 automated service calls. 37 The company
has a customer base of approximately 700,000 customers. 38

•

Kentucky. On April 25, 2016, Duke Energy filed an application with the Kentucky
Public Service Commission (PSC) to replace its existing meters with advanced meters. 39

31

Verified Petition of Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. for Approval of Petitioner’s 7-Year Plan for Eligible
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage System Improvements, Verified Petition, Cause No. 44720, (Indiana URC
Dec. 7, 2015), available at
https://myweb.in.gov/IURC/eds/Modules/IURC/CategorySearch/viewfile.aspx?contentid=0900b631801cf9ce.
32
Verified Petition of Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. for Approval of Petitioner’s 7-Year Plan for Eligible
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage System Improvements, Cause No. 44720, Appendix A at 1, (Indiana URC
Dec. 7, 2015).
33
Press Release, Duke Energy, Duke Energy Indiana reaches settlement to modernize its statewide electric
grid (March 7, 2016), available at http://news.duke-energy.com/releases/duke-energy-indiana-reaches-settlement-tomodernize-its-statewide-electric-grid.
34
Verified Petition of Duke Energy Indiana, Inc. for Approval of Petitioner’s 7-Year Plan for Eligible
Transmission, Distribution, and Storage System Improvements, Order of the Commission, Cause No. 44720,
(Indiana URC June 29, 2016), available at
https://myweb.in.gov/IURC/eds/Modules/Ecms/Cases/Docketed_Cases/ViewDocument.aspx?DocID=0900b631801
da2fe.
35
In the Matter of the Publication of Westar Energy, Inc. and Kansas Gas and Electric Company to Make
Certain Changes in Their Charges for Electric Service, Docket No. 15-WSEE-115-RTS, Order Approving
Stipulation and Agreement (KCC Sept. 24, 2015), available at
http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=29b7b55e-b40c-4f66-9335-153bfe44a81e.
36
In the Matter of the Publication of Westar Energy, Inc. and Kansas Gas and Electric Company to Make
Certain Changes in Their Charges for Electric Service, Docket No. 15-WSEE-115-RTS at 2, Direct Testimony of
Hal Jensen (KCC Mar. 2, 2015), available at http://estar.kcc.ks.gov/estar/ViewFile.aspx?Id=91a694e6-ee25-4156b6c1-c2159533e338.
37
Westar Energy, Digital Meter Upgrade Program, available at
https://www.westarenergy.com/Portals/0/Resources/Documents/PDFs/AMI_Summary.pdf.
38
Westar Energy, Westar at a Glance, available at https://www.westarenergy.com/westar-at-a-glance.
39
The Application of Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc., for (1) a Certificate of Public Convenience and
Necessity Authorizing the Construction of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure; (2) Request for Accounting
Treatment; and (3) All Other Necessary Waivers, Approvals, and Relief, Case No. 2016-00152, Application,
(Kentucky PSC Apr. 25, 2016), available at http://psc.ky.gov/pscecf/2016-00152/debbie.gates%40dukeenergy.com/04252016034135/Case_No._2015-00152_Application.pdf.

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Duke Energy proposes to install approximately 143,000 advanced meters over two years,
at an estimated cost of $38 million.40
•

Maine. In January 2016, Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a Maine Public
Utilities Commission (MPUC) finding that Central Maine Power Company’s (CMP)
advanced metering infrastructure system poses no credible threat to the health and safety
of CMP’s customers.

•

Maryland. On September 26, 2016, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC)
initiated notice of a public conference reviewing key distribution systems aspects,
including maximizing the advanced metering and associated infrastructure benefits to
ratepayers; rate design, including time-varying rates; benefits and costs associated with
the deployment of solar, and potentially other distributed energy resources (DER);
appropriate classification and valuation of energy storage; DER interconnection, and
distribution system planning. 41

•

Massachusetts. On August 19, 2015, National Grid submitted its grid modernization
plan to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). 42 The company’s grid
modernization plan considered four different scenarios, all varying in levels of impact to
customers in terms of benefits and costs. 43 While the implementation of any of the four
scenarios will achieve the elements of “advanced metering functionality” as required by
the DPU, 44 the scenarios differ significantly in deployment of advanced meters. Two of
the scenarios call for a full deployment of advanced meters to replace 1.3 million retail
meters, while the others call for most customers to opt-in for advanced meter
deployment. 45

40

Id. at 9-10.
In the Matter of Transforming Maryland’s Electric Distribution Systems to Ensure that Electric Service
is Customer-Centered, Affordable, Reliable and Environmentally Sustainable in Maryland, Notice of Public
Conference, Public Conference 44, (Maryland PSC Sept. 26, 2016) available at http://www.psc.state.md.us/wpcontent/uploads/PC-44-Notice-Transforming-Marylands-Electric-Distribution-System.pdf.
42
Petition of Massachusetts Electric Company and Nantucket Electric Company d/b/a National Grid for
Approval of its Grid Modernization Plan, Grid Modernization Plan, Grid Modernization Plan, DPU 15-120
(Massachusetts DPU Aug. 19, 2015), available at
http://web1.env.state.ma.us/DPU/FileRoomAPI/api/Attachments/Get/?path=15120%2fGrid_Mod_PlanFinalRedacted_Boo.pdf.
43
Id. at 11.
44
Id. at 36. As defined by the Massachusetts DPU, advanced metering functionality includes: (1) the
collection of customers’ interval usage data, in near real time, usable for settlement in the ISO-NE energy and
ancillary services markets; (2) automated outage restoration and notification; (3) two-way communication between
customers and the electric distribution company; and (4) communication with and control of a customer’s appliances
(with permission). See Investigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own Motion into Modernization of
the Electric Grid, D.P.U. 12-76-B, (Massachusetts DPU June 12, 2014), p. 11, available at
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dpu/electric/12-76-a-order.pdf.
45
Id.
41

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•

Michigan. Consumers Energy expects to complete deployment of advanced meters 46 to
all 1.8 million electricity customers by September 2017. 47 The company has been
deploying advanced meters since August 2012. 48

•

Minnesota. On June 13, 2015, Governor Dayton signed a new law directing utilities to
identify investments to modernize the transmission and distribution system by facilitating
communication between the utility and its customers through the use of two-way meters,
among other things. 49 As stated in a grid modernization report submitted by a Minnesota
subsidiary of Xcel Energy, the utility is in the early stages of testing and field deployment
of advanced meters in preparation for the expiration of their advanced meter reading
(AMR) 50 meters. 51 The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is also engaged in
a three-phased grid modernization initiative that started in November 2015. 52 As part of
this initiative, the Minnesota PUC staff issued a report on grid modernization in March
2016, 53 and held a workshop on Integrated Distribution Planning Modernization in
October 2016. 54
46

Consumers Energy, Upgraded Consumers Energy Meters Provide Michigan Homes, Businesses with
Online Access to Energy Use Information, July 1, 2016, available at
https://www.consumersenergy.com/News.aspx?id=8521&year=2016.
47
In the Matter of the Application of Consumer Energy Company for Authority to Increase its Rates for the
Generation and Distribution of Electricity and for Other Relief, Qualifications and Direct Testimony of Lauren
Fromm, at 5, Case No. U-17990 (Michigan PSC July 22, 2016), available at
https://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/docs/17990/0173.pdf.
48
In the Matter, on the Commission’s Own Motion, to Require Consumers Energy Company to Investigate
and to Submit a Report to the Commission Regarding the Utility’s Estimated Billing Practices, Estimated Billing
Practices Staff Report, at 23, Case No. U-18002 (Michigan PSC May 18, 2016), available at
https://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/docs/18002/0004.pdf.
49
Minnesota State Legislature, House File 3 of the 2015 Special Session at ll. 76.24-76.31, approved on
June 13, 2015, modifying Minn. Stat. §216B.2425, available at
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF0003&version=latest&session=89&session_number=1&sessi
on_year=2015.
50
AMR meters “collect data for billing purposes only and transmit this data one way, usually from the
customer to the distribution utility. Aggregated monthly kWh data captured on these meters may be retrieved by a
variety of methods including drive-by vans with short-distance remote reading capabilities and communication over
a fixed network such as a cellular network.” EIA, Form EIA-861 Annual Electric Power Industry Report
Instructions, Approval: OMB No. 1905-0129, Approval Expires: 05/31/2017, p. 17, available
at https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_861/instructions.pdf.
51
In the Matter of the 2015 Minnesota Biennial Transmission Projects Report, 2015 Minnesota Biennial
Transmission & Distribution Grid Modernization Report, at 11, Docket No. E999/M-15-439 (Minnesota PUC Oct.
30, 2015), available at https://www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe/PDF/Regulatory/MN-Filings-BiennialTransmission-Grid-Modernization-Report.pdf.
52
In the Matter of the Commission Investigation into Grid Modernization, Notice of Grid Modernization
Stakeholder Meeting and Final Notice, Docket CI-15-556 (Minnesota PUC Nov. 18, 2015).
53
In the Matter of the Commission Investigation into Grid Modernization, Staff Report on Grid
Modernization, Docket CI-15-556 (Minnesota PUC March 2016), available at
https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling/edockets/searchDocuments.do?method=eDocketsResult&docketYear=15
&docketNumber=556#{E04F7495-01E6-49EA-965E-21E8F0DD2D2A}.
54
In the Matter of the Commission Investigation into Grid Modernization, Notice of Grid Modernization
Stakeholder Meeting and Final Notice, Notice of Integrated Distribution Planning Report and Stakeholder
Workshop,( Minnesota PUC Sept. 13, 2016), available at
https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling/edockets/searchDocuments.do?method=showPoup&documentId=%7BBC

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December 2016

•

Missouri. In 2015, Ameren Missouri completed installation of over 160,000 advanced
meters in its service territory. 55 The company plans on investing a total of $360 million
in smart grid infrastructure, including additional advanced metering from 2012-2021. 56

•

New Hampshire. On July 30, 2015, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) initiated an investigation into grid modernization, including consideration of
advanced meters. 57 On April 1, 2016, the New Hampshire PUC established a formal
working group to, in part, “investigate the opportunities for different types of advanced
meters and advanced metering options to provide the functionality needed to support grid
modernization.” 58

•

North Carolina. In response to a Duke Energy Carolinas’ proposal to have customers
who prefer to maintain or have reinstalled analog meters charged a one-time set-up fee of
$150 and a monthly fee of $11.75 to cover the costs of manual meter reading, 59 the North
Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) suspended the proposed charges on July 29,
2016, required the utility to answer specific NCUC questions on advanced meters, and set
a timeline for interested party comments. 60 After Duke Energy Carolina responded to the
NCUC’s advanced metering questions, the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office
requested an extension of time for comments, which the NCUC granted. 61

•

New York. On March 17, 2016, the New York Public Service Commission (PSC)
approved a plan by Consolidated Edison (ConEd), to distribute advanced meters to more
than 3.2 million customers over a six-year period that starts in 2017. 62 As approved,

E52F21-2497-4F2D-A70D-02614957A012%7D&documentTitle=20169-124836-01. Attached to this notice is a
report prepared by ICF International on Integrated Distribution Planning.
55
Ameren, 2015 Annual Report, Feb. 26, 2016, p. 2, available at https://www.ameren.com//media/corporate-site/Files/Reference/AmerenProxyMaterial/Ameren10K.pdf.
56
Id. at 13.
57
Investigation into Grid Modernization, Order of Notice: Electric Distribution Utilities, Docket No. IR 15296 (New Hampshire PUC July 30, 2015), available at https://www.puc.nh.gov/Regulatory/Docketbk/2015/15296/INITIAL%20FILING%20-%20PETITION/15-296%202015-07-30%20ORDER%20OF%20NOTICE.PDF.
58
Investigation into Grid Modernization, Order on Scope and Process, Docket No. IR 15-296, Order No.
25,877 at 6, (New Hampshire PUC Apr. 1, 2016), available at
https://www.puc.nh.gov/Regulatory/Docketbk/2015/15-296/ORDERS/15-296_2016-04-01_ORDER_25877.PDF.
59
In the Matter of Application of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, for Approval of Advanced Metering
Infrastructure Opt-Out Tariff, Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC's AMI Opt-Out Rider, Docket No. E-7, Sub 1115
(NCUC July 29, 2016), available at http://starw1.ncuc.net/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=992dc118-bf01-42e2-b0b6964b14f1dfc1.
60
Id., Order Requesting Comments and Additional Information Regarding Proposed Smart Meter Opt-Out
Charges, Docket No. E-7, Sub 1115 (NCUC Aug. 11, 2016), available at
http://starw1.ncuc.net/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=43f8ec35-519e-4dd4-9c26-798ae4a9bbe4.
61 Id., Order Granting Extension of Time to File Reply Comments, Docket No. E-7, Sub 1115 (NCUC
Nov. 16, 2016), available at http://starw1.ncuc.net/NCUC/ViewFile.aspx?Id=f9a1d816-bee1-488c-be33305131b567d4.
62
Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. for Electric Service, Order Approving Advanced Metering
Infrastructure Business Plan Subject to Conditions, CASE 15-E-0050, (New York PSC Mar. 17, 2016), available at

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ConEd’s Advanced Meter Infrastructure Business Plan includes 15-minute meter reads
for residential customers, and five-minute reads for non-residential customers. 63 The New
York PSC directed ConEd to develop a customer engagement plan, including data access
and privacy policies, implementation of Green Button Connect My Data, one or more
pilot projects, and opt-out tariffs. 64
•

Oklahoma. In mid-2016, Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) completed the
deployment of advanced meters across its service territory. 65 The Oklahoma Corporation
Commission approved PSO’s collection of revenues for the installation of the meters in
April 2015. 66

•

Pennsylvania. In January 2016, Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric
Company, Pennsylvania Power Company, and West Penn Power Company initiated fullscale deployment of advanced meters, and forecast installation of approximately 98.5
percent of all meters by mid-2019, and the remainder no later than 2022. 67

•

Tennessee. On December 1, 2015, the Memphis City Council approved Memphis Light,
Gas and Water’s (MLGW) full roll-out of advanced meters, projected for completion by
2020. 68 The deployment is the second phase of MLGW’s two-phase plan to implement
advanced meters, and is expected to cost $240 million.

•

Washington. On January 6, 2016, the Washington Utilities and Transportation
Commission declined to rule on the prudency of Avista Utilities’ proposal for advanced
meters. 69 The Commission stated that the issue was not ripe for Commission
determination at the time, but that the company may file a separate accounting petition if
Avista decides to go forward with its proposal. 70 Avista Utilities originally proposed a

http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterCaseNo=15-E0050&submit=Search.
63
Id., ConEdison Advanced Metering Infrastructure Business Plan at 66 (New York PSC Oct. 15, 2015),
available at http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId={6E51BC25-7CCB-446FB6E0-F84A72880DAC}.
64
See supra note 67.
65
Jim Roth, Roth: PSO, AMI, and ROI, Journal Record, July 22, 2016, available at
http://journalrecord.com/2016/07/22/roth-pso-ami-and-roi-opinion/.
66
Application of Public Service Company of Oklahoma to be in Compliance with Order No. 591185,
Issued in Cause No. PUD 201100106, Order No. 591186, Cause No. PUD 201300217, (OCC Apr. 14, 2015),
available at http://imaging.occeweb.com/AP/CaseFiles/occ5114618.pdf.
67
Joint Petition of Metropolitan Edison Company, Pennsylvania Electric Company, Pennsylvania Power
Company and West Penn Power Company for Approval of their Smart Meter Deployment Plans, 2015 Annual
Progress Report Smart Meter Technology Procurement and Installation Plan, Docket Nos. 23411990, 2341994,
2341993, 2341991, (Pennsylvania PUC Aug. 3, 2015, available at http://www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/1375241.pdf.
68
MLGW, Smart Grid, available at http://www.mlgw.com/smart-grid.
69
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission v. Avista Corp, Final Order Rejecting Tariff Filing,
Accepting Partial Settlement Stipulation, Authorizing Tariff Filings, Dockets UE-150204 and UG-150205,
(Washington UTC Jan. 6, 2016), available at
http://www.utc.wa.gov/_layouts/CasesPublicWebsite/GetDocument.ashx?docID=1862&year=2015&docketNumber
=150204.
70
Id. at 68-71.

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six-year project to replace all retail meters with approximately 253,000 advanced
meters. 71
On July 25, 2016, Seattle City Light obtained approval from the Seattle City Council for
an updated strategic plan for the years 2017-2022. 72 The company plans to invest $94
million73 to replace approximately 430,000 retail meters with advanced meters, to be
completed by the year 2019. 74

71
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission v. Avista Corp, Direct Testimony of Don F.
Kopczynski, Dockets UE-150204 and UG-150205, (Washington UTC Feb. 2015), available at
http://www.utc.wa.gov/_layouts/CasesPublicWebsite/GetDocument.ashx?docID=114&year=2015&docketNumber=
150204.
72
Resolution 31678: A Resolution relating to the City Light Department; adopting a 2017-2022 Strategic
Plan for the City Light Department and endorsing a six-year rate path required to support the Strategic Plan, Seattle
City Council, July 25, 2016, available at
http://seattle.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2769630&GUID=D312F4F5-868A-4989-8550BCC7AA5E8343&FullText=1.
73
Seattle City Light Strategic Plan Update 2017-2022, A Progress Report on the Future of Your Electric
Service at 3, (2015), available at http://www.seattle.gov/light/stratplan/docs/strategic_plan_web.pdf.
74
Seattle City Light Strategic Plan Update 2017-2022, Strategic Initiatives Summary at 7, (May 20, 2016),
available at http://www.seattle.gov/light/stratplan/docs/2017-2022%20Strategic%20Initiatives%20Summary.pdf.

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Chapter 3: Annual resource contribution of demand resources
Using the latest publicly available data, this chapter summarizes the annual resource contribution
from retail and wholesale demand response programs on a national and regional basis from 2013
to 2014, and 2014 to 2015, respectively. 75 Table 3-1 presents data collected by EIA on 2013 and
2014 potential peak reduction from retail demand response programs within each of the eight
regional electricity councils, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Nationwide, total potential peak
reduction 76 from retail demand response programs increased by 4,096 megawatts (MW), or 15.1
percent, between 2013 and 2014.
Table 3-1: Potential Peak Reduction (MW) from Retail Demand Response Programs by Region
(2013 & 2014)

Region
AK
FRCC
HI
MRO
NPCC
RFC
SERC
SPP
TRE
WECC
Unspecified
Total

Annual Potential Peak
Reduction (MW)
2013
2014
27
27
1,924
3,389
35
41
4,264
4,366
467
654
5,362
5,006
8,254
8,343
1,594
1,324
459
613
4,681
7,427
28
-27,095
31,191

Year-on-Year Change
MW
0
1,466
6
102
188
-355
89
-270
154
2,745
-28
4,096

%
0.0%
76.2%
16.5%
2.4%
40.2%
-6.6%
1.1%
-16.9%
33.5%
58.6%
-100.0%
15.1%

Sources: EIA, EIA-861 Demand_Response_2013, Demand_Response_2014, Utility_Data_2013,
and Utility_Data_2014 data files.
Note: Figures from source data are rounded to the nearest megawatt for publication. The
percentage change is calculated based on the unrounded figures. Although some entities may
operate in more than one NERC Region, EIA data have only one NERC region designation per
entity. Commission staff has not independently verified the accuracy of EIA data.

Regionally, however, there were large differences in the change in potential peak reduction from
2013 to 2014. For example, Table 3-1 above indicates potential peak reduction increased in the
WECC region by more than 2,700 MW compared to the previous year; this can be attributed
primarily to a large increase in reported savings from commercial and industrial programs
operated by Southern California Edison. Increased demand response potential in the FRCC
region was largely due to greater reported savings from FPL’s demand response programs, which
75

The latest publicly available retail and wholesale data sets are used to determine the annual resource
contributions from retail and wholesale demand response programs; these include EIA retail data for 2012 and 2013,
as well as ISO/RTO wholesale data for 2014.
76
See Supra note 3.

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returned to a level last reported in 2012. These gains in demand response potential were offset
by small drops in potential in other regions, such as RFC and Southwest Power Pool (SPP).
As Table 3-2 illustrates, in 2014, industrial customer demand response represented 16,505 MW,
or 53 percent, of total potential peak reduction in retail programs, a decrease of two percentage
points since 2013. Residential customer demand response accounted for 8,118 MW, or 26
percent, of total potential peak reduction from retail programs in 2014, the same percentage as
the previous year. Demand response programs in the commercial sector accounted for 6,215
MW, or 20 percent, of total potential peak reduction, up approximately one percent from the
previous year. The relative contribution by customer class varies by region. For example,
residential demand response programs account for the largest portion of potential peak reduction
in FRCC (approximately 49 percent) and MRO (approximately 44 percent). In contrast,
commercial programs account for the majority of potential peak reduction in Alaska, Hawaii,
NPCC and TRE; and industrial programs account for the majority in RFC, SERC, SPP, and
WECC.
Table 3-2: Potential Peak Reduction (MW) from Retail Demand Response Programs by Region and
Customer Class (2014)
Region
AK
FRCC
HI
MRO
NPCC
RFC
SERC
SPP
TRE
WECC
All Regions

Residential Commercial
5
13
1,651
1,318
15
26
1,930
818
58
313
1,298
678
1,706
789
129
223
166
345
1,160
1,692
8,118
6,215

Customer Class
Industrial
Transportation
9
0
421
0
0
0
1,618
0
269
14
3,030
0
5,848
0
973
0
102
0
4,236
339
16,505
353

All Classes
27
3,389
41
4,366
654
5,006
8,343
1,324
613
7,427
31,191

Source: EIA, EIA-861 Demand_Response_2014 and Utility_Data_2014 data files.
Note: Figures from source data are rounded to the nearest megawatt for publication. Although some entities may
operate in more than one NERC Region, EIA data have only one NERC region designation per entity. Commission
staff has not independently verified the accuracy of EIA data.

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Table 3-3 below presents potential peak reduction from wholesale demand response programs in
2014 and 2015. Across all ISO/RTO regions, potential peak reduction rose substantially in 2015
to 31,754 MW, a 10 percent increase from the previous year, outpacing peak demand growth of
4 percent. Therefore, the contribution of potential peak reduction to meeting peak demand
increased to 6.6 percent in 2015, up from 6.2 percent in 2014.
Regionally, demand response participation increased in three of the seven ISOs/RTOs in 2015:
PJM, NYISO and ISO-NE. Of these, the largest absolute and percentage increase in megawatts
occurred in PJM, where demand response potential rose by 24 percent, or almost 2,500 MW.
Most of this increase was due to significant new enrollment in PJM’s load management products
compared to 2014, particularly in the ComEd, ATSI, and AEP zones. 77 Potential peak reduction
also increased in NYISO by 9 percent, or 114 MW, due to increased enrollment in the Special
Case Resources program, a reliability demand response product. Similarly, potential peak
reduction rose in ISO-NE by 8 percent, or 209 MW, due to increased enrollment in the
Western/Central Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Northeastern Massachusetts zones. These
increases in enrollments were offset by a fall in enrollment in the Maine zone, particularly in
real-time demand response resources. 78
In contrast, wholesale demand response potential fell in CAISO, by more than 150 MW, due to
decreased enrollment in Southern California Edison’s and Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s
price-responsive demand programs. 79 In addition, according to SPP, there has been no loadreducing demand response activity in its Integrated Marketplace since March 14, 2014. Potential
peak reduction fell to zero in the region in 2015, a decrease from 48 MW in 2014.

77
Based on comparison of data from PJM 2014 Demand Response Operations Markets Activity Report
(Apr. 2015), pp. 6-8 and PJM 2015 Demand Response Operations Markets Activity Report (Jan. 2016), pp. 5-6.
78
Based on comparison of data from “ISO-NE Demand Response Asset Enrollment,” presented at Demand
Resources Working Group Meeting (Jan. 7, 2015) (data as of Jan. 1, 2015), p. 2; and “ISO-NE Demand Resource
Statistics,” presented at Demand Resources Working Group Meeting (Jan. 20, 2016) (data as of Jan. 1, 2016), p. 2.
79
CAISO, 2015 Annual Report on Market Issues and Performance, Table 1.4, p. 33 (May 2016).

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Table 3-3: Potential Peak Reduction from U.S. ISO and RTO Demand Response Programs

RTO/ISO
California ISO (CAISO)
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
ISO New England, Inc. (ISO-NE)
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM)
Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP)
Total ISO/RTO

2014
Potential
Peak
Percent
Reduction
of Peak
(MW)
Demand 8
2,316 1
5.1%
2
2,100
3.2%
2,487 3
10.2%
10,356 4
9.0%
5
1,211
4.1%
10,416 6
7.4%
7
48
0.1%
28,934
6.2%

2015
Potential
Peak
Percent of
Reduction
Peak
(MW)
Demand 8
2,160 9
4.4%
10
2,100
3.0%
2,696 11
11.0%
10,563 12
8.8 %
13
1,325
4.3%
12,910 14
9.0%
15
0
0%
31,754
6.6%

Sources:
1 CAISO 2014 Annual Report on Market Issues & Performance, Table 1.3, p. 32 (June 2015)
2 ERCOT Quick Facts (Dec. 2014)
3 ISO-NE Demand Response Asset Enrollment, presented at Demand Resources Working Group Meeting (Jan. 7, 2015) (data
as of Jan. 1, 2015), p. 2.
4 2014 State of the Market Report for the MISO Electricity Market (June 2015)
5 2014 Annual Report on Demand Side Management Programs of the New York Independent System Operator, Inc., ER013001 (Jan. 15, 2015), Table 1, p. 7
6 PJM 2014 Demand Response Operations Markets Activity Report (Apr. 2015), pp. 3-5. Figure represents “unique MW.”
7 SPP Fast Facts (as of Dec. 31, 2014).
8 Sources for peak demand data include: California ISO 2014 & 2015 Annual Reports on Market Issues and Performance;
ERCOT 2014 & 2015 Demand and Energy Reports; ISO-NE Net Energy and Peak Load Report (Apr. 2015 & May 2016);
2014 & 2015 State of the Market Reports for the MISO Electricity Markets; 2014 & 2015 State of the Market Reports for the
New York ISO Markets; 2014 & 2015 PJM State of the Markets Reports, Vol. 2; SPP Fast Facts (Feb. 2016).
9 CAISO, 2015 Annual Report on Market Issues and Performance, Table 1.4, p. 33 (May 2016)
10
ERCOT Quick Facts (Dec. 2015)
11 ISO-NE Demand Resource Statistics, presented at Demand Resources Working Group Meeting (Jan. 20, 2016) (data as of
Jan. 1, 2016), p. 2.
12 2015 State of the Market Report for the MISO Electricity Market (June 2015), Table 5, p. 76.
13 2015 Annual Report on Demand Side Management Programs of the New York Independent System Operator, Inc., ER013001 (Jan. 12, 2016), Attachment I, Table 1, p. 7
14
PJM 2015 Demand Response Operations Markets Activity Report (Jan. 2016), pp. 3-4. Figure represents “unique MW.”
15 “[S]ince March 14, 2014, no load-reduction demand response activity has occurred in the Integrated Marketplace." See SPP
Compliance Filing, Docket No. ER12-1179-024, p. 4 (May 24, 2016).
Note: Commission staff has not independently verified the accuracy of the RTO, ISO and Independent Market Monitor reports.
Values from source data are rounded for publication.

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Chapter 4: Potential for demand response as a quantifiable, reliable
resource for regional planning purposes
The North American bulk power system is integrating an increasing level of demand response
resources, variable energy resources, and distributed energy resources. As a result, NERC is
considering how these resources can be reliably integrated into the operation and planning of the
bulk power system, 80 and how these resources affect generation and load resources. 81 NERC
asserts that demand response and price-responsive loads provide system operators with
additional system-balancing tools. 82 To better understand and measure the performance of
demand response resources, NERC developed and approved four new demand response metrics
in 2015. 83 These new demand response metrics measure enrollment and event information to
determine actual performance, including the resource’s contribution to improved reliability.
NERC states that future efforts intend to focus on improving data collection, maintaining data
quality, and providing observations of possible demand response contributions to reliability. 84

80

NERC, State of Reliability Report, May 2016, p. 5, available at
http://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/PA/Performance%20Analysis%20DL/2016_SOR_Report_Final_v1.pdf.
81
NERC, Essential Reliability Services Task Force Measures Framework Report
Nov. 2015, p. iv, available at
http://www.nerc.com/comm/Other/essntlrlbltysrvcstskfrcDL/ERSTF%20Framework%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf.
82
Id. at 63.
83
NERC, State of Reliability Report, May 2016, pp. 70, 128.
84
Id. at 123.

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Chapter 5: Existing demand response programs and time-based rate
programs and steps taken to ensure that, in regional transmission
planning and operations, demand resources are provided equitable
treatment as a quantifiable, reliable resource relative to the resource
obligations of any load-serving entity, transmission provider, or
transmitting party
This chapter provides information on demand response programs and time-based rate programs
in 2013 and 2014, and summarizes recent federal, regional, state, and industry demand response
actions. Tables 5-1 and 5-2 present customer enrollments in incentive-based 85 and time-based 86
demand response programs for 2013 and 2014, respectively. As shown in Table 5-1, from 2013
to 2014, the number of customers enrolled in incentive-based programs nationwide increased
slightly to reach almost 9.3 million customers, after increasing by almost 70 percent in 2013 due
to grants received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009’s Smart Grid
Investment Grants for the deployment of advanced meters and associated infrastructure. 87
On a regional basis, customer enrollment increased by nearly 120 percent in TRE from 2013 to
2014, to reach more than three hundred thousand customers. EIA data indicates this is due to
large increases in reported enrollments for programs run by Austin Energy, the City of San
Antonio, TriEagle Energy, and CenterPoint Energy. Additionally, enrollment in incentive-based
programs increased by 20 percent in SERC, due to increased enrollment in programs run by
Snapping Shoals Electric Coop, Dominion, Duke, and Louisville Gas & Electric, and by 9
percent in RFC. Program enrollment fell in other regions, including WECC and NPCC, due to
lower reported participation by Southern California Edison, PacificCorp, and ConEd, among
others.

85

Incentive-based demand response programs include direct load control, interruptible, demand
bidding/buyback, emergency demand response, capacity market, and ancillary service market programs. See EIA,
Form EIA-861 Instructions, Schedule 6-Part C.
86
Time-based rate programs include real-time pricing, critical peak pricing, variable peak pricing, and
time-of-use rates administered through a tariff. See EIA, Form EIA-861 Instructions, Schedule 6-Part C.
87
U.S. DOE, “Recovery Act Selections For Smart Grid Investment Grant Awards – By State,” updated
November 2011, available at http://www.energy.gov/oe/downloads/recovery-act-selections-smart-grid-investmentgrant-awards-state-updated-november-2011.

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Table 5-1: Customer Enrollment in Incentive-based Demand Response Programs, by Region
(2013 & 2014)

Region
AK
FRCC
HI
MRO
NPCC
RFC
SERC
SPP
TRE
WECC
Unspecified
Total

Enrollment in
Incentive-based Programs
2013
2014
2,468
2,428
1,554,830
1,490,073
36,332
36,102
1,248,723
1,227,445
62,631
51,227
1,852,985
2,012,846
1,084,449
1,303,339
193,507
175,146
138,613
302,913
3,002,607
2,651,163
10,205
12,947
9,187,350
9,265,629

Year-on-Year Change
Customers
%
-40
-2%
-64,757
-4%
-230
-1%
-21,278
-2%
-11,404
-18%
159,861
9%
218,890
20%
-18,361
-9%
164,300
119%
-351,444
-12%
2,742
27%
78,279
1%

Sources: EIA, EIA-861 Demand_Response_2013, Utility_Data_2013, Demand_Response_2014,
and Utility_Data_2014 data files.
Note: Although some entities may operate in more than one NERC Region, EIA data have only
one NERC region designation per entity. Commission staff has not independently verified the
accuracy of EIA data.

As Table 5-2 indicates, nationwide enrollment in time-based programs increased approximately
15 percent from 2013 to 2014. The bulk of this increase occurred in the RFC region with more
than 575,000 new customer enrollments, and the WECC region, with over 270,000 new
customer enrollments. The pace of new enrollments in 2014 fell well below the 60 percent
increase experienced in 2013. EIA data indicates the increase in time-based program
enrollments for the RFC region is largely due to a tripling of enrollment in an existing Baltimore
Gas & Electric program. The increase in enrollment for the WECC region is primarily due to
significant enrollment increases in commercial and industrial programs run by Southern
California Edison. In TRE, enrollment increased significantly, from less than 1,000 to almost
50,000 customers, primarily as a result of TriEagle Energy residential program participation.
Data within the table’s “Unspecified” region also shows growth in time-based customer
participation, reflecting an increase in residential time-based program enrollments for TXU
Energy Retail and other retail power marketers. 88 Decreased enrollment in MRO and SERC
reflect lower reported participation in programs run by Riverland Energy and Albertville
Municipal Utilities Board, respectively.

88

Power marketers are not required to specify a NERC region when responding to the EIA-861 survey.
See EIA, Form EIA-861, Schedule 2, Part A, available at http://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/.

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Table 5-2: Customer Enrollment in Time-based Demand Response Programs, by Region
(2013 & 2014)

Region
AK
FRCC
HI
MRO
NPCC
RFC
SERC
SPP
TRE
WECC
Unspecified
Total

Enrollment in
Time-based Programs
2013
2014
43
53
16,203
20,069
365
466
108,527
94,176
258,426
252,323
1,977,536
2,553,434
236,662
203,954
1,143,774
1,188,004
968
49,481
2,146,548
2,416,960
88,229
115,906
5,977,281
6,894,826

Year-on-Year Change
Customers
%
10
23%
3,866
24%
101
28%
-14,351
-13%
-6,103
-2%
575,898
29%
-32,708
-14%
44,230
4%
48,513
5012%
270,412
13%
27,677
31%
917,545
15%

Sources: EIA, EIA-861 Dynamic_Pricing_2013 and Dynamic_Pricing_2014 data files.
Note: Although some entities may operate in more than one NERC Region, EIA data have only
one NERC region designation per entity. Commission staff has not independently verified the
accuracy of EIA data.

FERC demand response orders and activities
On January 25, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in FERC v. EPSA. 89 The EPSA
decision reversed a May 2014 D.C. Circuit opinion holding that FERC’s demand response
regulation (Order No. 745) is ultra vires under the Federal Power Act (FPA) because it regulates
retail sales, and that the demand response compensation directed in Order No. 745 was “arbitrary
and capricious.” 90 Instead, the U.S. Supreme Court found that the Commission had authority to
adopt Order No. 745 under the FPA. The Court found that “the Rule governs a practice directly
affecting wholesale electricity rates.” 91 In addition, the Court upheld the Order No. 745
compensation approach. The Court found that the Commission “engaged in reasoned decision
making”, and that it “selected a compensation formula with adequate support in the record, and
intelligibly explained the reasons for making that choice.” 92
In the last year, the Commission issued orders related to the participation of demand response in
organized wholesale electric markets. The Commission had delayed action on several orders
pending the Court’s EPSA decision. 93

89

136 S. Ct. 760 (2016) (“EPSA”).
See EPSA v. FERC, 753 F.3d 216 (D.C. Cir. 2014).
91
EPSA at 33-34.
92
Id. at 33.
93
For example, on April 21, 2016, the Commission issued five orders: Independent Market Monitor for
PJM v. PJM Interconnection, L.L.C, 155 FERC ¶ 61,059 (2016), Viridity Energy, Inc. v. PJM Interconnection,
90

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In addition to these orders, on June 3, 2016, 94 the Commission approved NYISO’s proposed
revisions to the measurement and verification of demand response facilitated by behind-themeter resources that participate in NYISO’s day-ahead economic demand response program.
The proposed revisions included changes to the relevant definitions, new measurement and
verification rules and baseline calculations, metering requirements, and data reporting
requirements.
The Commission also issued two orders associated with proposals by CAISO that are designed to
incorporate distributed energy resources (which include demand response) and facilitate energy
storage. On June 2, 2016, 95 the Commission approved CAISO’s distributed energy resource
provider (DERP) proposal, subject to conditions. The DERP program establishes an initial
framework to enable resources, such as demand response and storage, connected to distribution
systems within CAISO’s balancing authority area to form aggregations of 0.5 MW or more and
participate in CAISO’s energy and ancillary services markets. On August 16, 2016, 96 the
Commission issued an order accepting two tariff revisions associated with CAISO’s Energy
Storage and Distributed Energy Resources initiative. The first revision allows non-generator
resources, which may include energy storage resources, to submit their state-of-charge as a bid
parameter in the day-ahead market and self-manage their state-of-charge and energy limits. Prior
to this revision, CAISO set the state-of-charge level. The second revision establishes
performance measurement methodologies that allow CAISO to determine the performance of
behind-the-meter generator output. This revision will allow the behind-the-meter generator
output, which may include energy storage resources, to be directly compensated for in the
markets, and separates actions taken by these resources from facility demand response actions.

L.L.C., 155 FERC ¶ 61,060 (2016) , PJM Interconnection, L.L.C., 155 FERC ¶ 61,061 (2016), PJM Interconnection,
L.L.C., 155 FERC ¶ 61,062 (2016) , and PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. 155 FERC ¶ 61,063 (2016).
94
New York Independent System Operator, Inc., 155 FERC ¶ 61,243 (2016).
95
California Independent System Operator Corporation, 155 FERC ¶ 61,229 (2016).
96
California Independent System Operator Corporation, 156 FERC ¶ 61,110 (2016).

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Other federal demand response activities
White House Council of Economic Advisers
In June 2016, the White House Council of Economic Advisers released a report entitled
Incorporating Renewables into the Electric Grid: Expanding Opportunities for Smart Markets
and Energy Storage 97 in conjunction with a White House event on the topic of scaling renewable
energy and storage with advanced meters. The report discusses the ever-increasing value of grid
management services – like demand response – in light of the growing penetration of renewable
variable energy resources (VERs). 98 According to the report, the distinctive characteristics of
renewable VERs highlight the importance of facilitating programs and technologies like demand
response and energy storage to help manage steep generation ramping needs to meet net
electricity load, known in California as the “duck curve”. 99 The report examines in further detail
four key value streams of demand response programs: (1) reduction of peak generation, thus
lowering wholesale price spikes; (2) avoided transmission and distribution upgrades; (3) resource
adequacy requirements; and (4) smoothing steep ramps in net load. 100 The report also highlights
specific technologies and approaches for the expansion of demand response. Technologies such
as smart meters can be used to increase the elasticity of electricity, smart appliances can
automatically respond to price spikes, and vehicle-to-grid technology can work as another way to
forego peak generation. 101 Additionally, models based on infrastructure as a service as opposed
to the classic utility model and reforms to interconnection rules can enable demand response to
participate more broadly. 102
Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015
On April 30, 2015, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 became law, enabling
certain grid-enabled water heaters to participate in demand response programs. 103 According to
the law, an electric resistance water heater previously deemed too inefficient to meet national
appliance and equipment efficiency standards and commercially offered for sale alongside other
water heating units, 104 is granted an exemption as long it has an energy factor of at least 1.061, is
larger than 75 gallons, is grid-enabled, and is intended for participation in a demand response
program. 105 Thirty-five states have utilities with water heater load control programs. 106

97
The White House, Incorporating Renewables into the Electric Grid: Expanding Opportunities for Smart
Markets and Energy Storage, White House Council of Economic Advisers, June 2016, available at
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/page/files/20160616_cea_renewables_electricgrid.pdf.
98
Id.
99
Id.
100
Id. at 28.
101
Id. at 29.
102
Id. at 30.
103 Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-11, 129 Stat. 182 (2015).
104 10 C.F.R. pt. 430.32(d) (2010).
105 Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-11, 129 Stat. 182 at 187 (2015).
106 Katherine Tweed, Congress Passes Bill for Grid-Enabled Water Heaters, Greentech Media, April 22,
2015, available at http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/congress-comes-together-on-bill-for-grid-enabledwater-heaters.

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: RICE Rule
In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that modified the
national emissions standards and the performance standards to allow backup reciprocating
internal combustion engines (RICE), i.e., diesel generators, to operate without emissions controls
for up to 100 hours per year as part of an emergency demand-response program. 107 On May 1,
2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit)
reversed the RICE Rule. 108 In anticipation of an issuance of a mandate from the D.C. Circuit, on
April 15, 2016, the EPA issued a guidance memorandum to explain how the EPA intends to
implement the RICE Rule after issuance of the mandate. 109 The EPA’s guidance stated that “it
was EPA’s view that this change will mean that an engine may not operate in circumstances
described in the vacated provisions for any number of hours per year unless it is in compliance
with the emission standards and other applicable requirements of a non-emergency engine.” The
EPA also stated that a prior 2010 regulation that allowed emergency engines is revoked. On
May 4, 2016, the D.C. Circuit issued its mandate reversing and remanding the 2013 RICE
Rule. 110
As a result of the reversal of the RICE Rule, affected emergency generators can no longer
operate when system operators, such as ISOs and RTOs, implement emergency procedures when
there are inadequate operating reserves (i.e., NERC Emergency Action Alert 2), or participate in
emergency demand response programs operated by system operators. These affected generators
can only operate when their host facilities lose off-site power. Therefore, as of May 4, 2016,
emergency generators can no longer operate unless they are retrofitted to comply with the EPA’s
national emissions standards.
U.S. Department of Defense
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) accounts for the most energy consumed by any agency
of the federal government. 111 The DOD’s Defense Logistics Agency Energy (DLA Energy)
provides logistics, acquisition, and technical service assistance to DOD and other government
agencies on a wide range of energy needs including participation in demand-response
programs. 112 For fiscal year 2015, DOD’s DLA Energy reports that 80 separate demand
response programs were undertaken by DOD and DOD-supported federal civilian agencies,
which are located across 15 states and the District of Columbia, totaling more than 236.6 MW,
107

See National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion
Engines; New Source Performance Standards for Stationary Internal Combustion Engines, 78 Fed. Reg. 6,674 (Jan.
20, 2013) (“RICE Rule”).
108
See Del. Dep’t of Nat. Res. and Envtl. Control v. EPA, No. 13-1093 (D.C. Cir. May 1, 2015)).
109
U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality and Standards, Guidance on Vacatur of RICE NESHAP and NSPS
Provisions for Emergency Engines, April 15, 2016, available at
https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/atw/icengines/docs/RICEVacaturGuidance041516.pdf.
110
Mandate Effectuating the Vacatur in Delaware v. EPA, 785 F. 3d 1 (D.C. Cir. 2015), issued on May 4,
2016.
111
U.S. DOE, “Defense Department energy use falls to lowest level since at least 1975,” February 4, 2015,
available at http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=19871.
112
U.S. DOD, Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fiscal Year 2015 Fact Book, pp. 2, 12, available at
http://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Energy/Publications/E_Fiscal2015FactBookLowResolution_160707.pdf
?ver=2016-07-08-124636-630.

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and netting $3.2 million in savings for the year. 113 DLA Energy advises that additional savings
will continue to be realized on military installations and federal civilian agencies during fiscal
year 2016 through demand response programs. Additional participation in demand response
programs may occur due to updated DOD installation energy management procedures issued on
March 16, 2016. These new procedures will ensure that DOD entities comport with the
requirements of Executive Order 13693, 114 and will facilitate DOD's review of peak shaving and
demand response opportunities when taking steps to ensure energy resilience. 115
Additionally, DOD’s environmental research programs note that DOD facilities primarily
participate in demand response programs that require a manual response to email or phone
notifications instead of employing an automated response, which limit demand response program
participation to next day or four-hour-notice programs. 116 Consequently, one of the
demonstration projects being funded documents and validates improved performance and cost
savings by participating in automated, fast response demand response programs. 117
U.S. General Services Administration
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) manages 376.9 million square feet of building
space across over 9,600 buildings, 118 and relies on demand response programs to help meet
energy needs. 119 In June 2016, GSA reported that its demand response participation in NYISO
and PJM programs resulted in $1.6 million in rebates, which were in turn used to fund additional
energy and water saving projects. 120 GSA continues efforts to employ advanced meters and data
analytics, including an examination of commercial off-the-shelf products to support “smart
building solutions” that include smaller building systems, improved user interfaces, reduced
response times, green technologies, and demand response. 121 Additionally, in October 2016,
GSA issued a Request for Information to further examine building-level energy storage to

113

Id. at 52.
On March 19, 2015 President Obama signed Executive Order 13693: Planning for Federal
Sustainability in the Next Decade, which directs federal agencies to increase efficiency and improve environmental
performance. Executive Order 13693 3 C.F.R, pp 15871-15884 (2015), available at
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2015-03-25/pdf/2015-07016.pdf.
115
U.S. DOD, Department of Defense Instructions, Number 4170.11, December 11, 209, Change 1,
Effective March 16, 2016, Subject: Installation Energy Management, [Procedure 3.b.(1)(c)], pp. 17-18, available at
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/417011p.pdf.
116
U.S. DOD, Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Environmental
Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), Demonstrating Secure Demand Response in DOD, available
at https://www.serdp-estcp.org/News-and-Events/Blog/Demonstrating-Secure-Demand-Response-in-DoD.
117 DOD SERDP and ESTCP, Market Aware High Performance Buildings Participating in Fast Load
Response Utility Programs with a Single Open Standard Methodology (EW-201401), available at
https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Energy-and-Water/Energy/Conservation-and-Efficiency/EW-201401.
118
U.S. GSA, Public Buildings Service, available at http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104444.
119
U.S. GSA, 2015 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, July 9, 2015, available at
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/mediaId/119682/fileName/GSA_FY_2015_SSPP_Final.action.
120
U.S. GSA, “GSA’s Northeast and Caribbean Region Reaches $1.6 Million Mark in Demand Response
Rebate,” The GSA Bog, June 15, 2016, available at
https://gsablogs.gsa.gov/gsablog/2016/06/15/region-2-reaches-1-6-million-mark-in-demand-response-rebate/
121
Mark Ewing (Energy Division Director, GSA National Office), Strategic Vision for GSA Energy,
August 2015, p. 16, available at
http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/08/f25/T1S1_Ewing.pptx.
114

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facilitate demand response, enhance resiliency, and explore potential replacement of emergency
back-up generation units. 122
U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) is the federal government’s largest civilian
agency with 1,897 facilities 123 totaling 151.5 million gross square feet. 124 The VA’s Sustainable
Design Manual incorporated demand response programs as a site option, 125 and, in addressing
the Executive Order 13693 requirements, continues to evaluate the appropriateness of demand
response in different types of existing buildings. 126

State legislative and regulatory activities related to demand response
This section highlights developments in retail demand response and time-based pricing activities.
States continue to use demand response as an important resource, including the use of demand
response to meet state policy goals related to modernization of the grid and the electric industry,
and are increasingly looking towards new technologies to facilitate demand response.
•

California. In April 2016, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) released
Phase I of a study for the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on the topic of
leveraging smart meter data to estimate the potential for demand response and advanced
behind-the-meter storage to provide cost-effective resources as part of California’s future
electricity system. 127 The LBNL Phase 2 report will explore the potential for demand
response and distributed energy resources to meet capacity, ancillary services, ramping,
and flexibility needs in California. 128
On June 9, 2016, the California PUC approved proposals from the state’s three investorowned utilities (IOUs) for 2017 demand response programs and activities. The
California PUC approved $59.9 million for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, $23.8
million for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and $56.28 million for Southern

122

GSA, Request for Information (RFI) to obtain information on energy storage systems in order to assist
GSA in evaluating the feasibility of energy storage systems in various locations, October 31, 2016, Solicitation
Number: GS-00P-17-BSD-1232, available at
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=910181950d158c022391072c502461c0&tab=core&_c
view=1
123
U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA), Locations, available at
http://www.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp.
124
U.S. DVA, 2015 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, p. 2, available at
http://www.green.va.gov/docs/2015VAsspp.pdf.
125
U.S. DVA, Office of Construction & Facilities Management, Sustainable Design Manual, available at
http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/sustain/dmSustain.pdf.
126
U.S. DVA, 2015 Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan, p. 40.
127
LBNL, 2015 California Demand Response Potential Study: Charting California’s Demand Response
Future, Interim Report on Phase 1 Results, April 1, 2016, available at
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=10632.
128
Id. at 3.

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California Edison. 129 The California PUC also adopted a separate $11.8 million proposal
by Southern California Edison to continue its Demand Bidding Program to help alleviate
the effects of the natural gas leak at Southern California Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon
Storage Facility. 130
As part of an effort to bifurcate utility demand response programs into demand- and
supply-side resources and then integrate demand response resources into the California
Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) markets by 2018, the California PUC
established a Demand Response Auction Mechanism (DRAM) pilot for third parties to
provide demand response outside of utility programs. During the pilot, the IOUs and
third parties offer portions of their own demand response portfolios into the CAISO
market. The first deliverables of this program started on June 1, 2016, and the IOUs are
currently in the process of selecting bids. 131 The California PUC has also authorized
Automated Demand Response Programs that provide incentives to customers who invest
in technologies (such as energy management systems) that automate load reduction in
response to a signal from a utility or third-party demand response provider. As a
condition of receiving these incentives, the customer is required to remain in the demand
response program for at least three years. Participants receive 60 percent of the total
program incentive after installation of the equipment and the remaining 40 percent upon
verification of performance during a full demand response season. 132
Also, with the permanent retirement of the San Onofre Nuclear generation station,
SDG&E is seeking offers for up to 140 MW of new "preferred energy resources",
including demand response, distributed generation, energy efficiency, energy storage, and
renewable energy to meet local capacity requirements. 133 After receiving and evaluating
offers, SDG&E expects to submit its selected agreements to the California PUC for
approval in early- to mid-2017. 134
•

Colorado. In 2015, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) offered three types of
demand response products (direct load control, interruptible demand response, and nondispatchable demand response) and realized 10.5 MW largely through PSCo’s residential
air conditioning program. 135 PSCo is also offering a building optimization software

129

Order Instituting Rulemaking to Enhance the Role of Demand Response in Meeting the State's Resource
Planning Needs and Operational Requirements, Rulemaking 13-09-011, Decision 16-06-029 (California PUC June
9, 2016), available at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M163/K467/163467479.PDF.
130
Id.
131
California PUC, California Smart Grid: Annual Report to the Governor and Legislature, January 1,
2016, p. 12, available at
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/uploadedFiles/CPUC_Website/Content/Utilities_and_Industries/Energy/Reports_and_Whit
e_Papers/2015SmartGridAnnualReport.pdf.
132
Id. at 13.
133
SDG&E, SDG&E 2016 Preferred Resources Local Capacity Requirement Request for Offers, available
at http://www.sdge.com/procurement/2016PrefResourcesLCRRFO.
134
Id.
135
Xcel Energy, Demand-Side Management Annual Status Report Electric and Natural Gas Public Service
Company of Colorado March 30, 2016, Proceeding No. 14A-1057EG, p. 85, available at

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evaluation pilot, and separately noted the impacts of new EPA back-up generator
emission rules upon customer participation. 136
On September 18, 2015, Black Hills/Colorado Electric Utility Company (Black Hills)
and settling parties submitted a settlement agreement regarding Black Hills’ electric
demand side management plan for 2016-2018. 137 On December 8, 2015, the settlement
agreement, which includes a proposal to develop a residential and/or small commercial
pilot focused on studying demand response potential as well as energy savings from
adoption of smart thermostats, 138 was recommended for approval by the assigned
administrative law judge. 139

• Hawaii. On December 30, 2015, the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and its
subsidiaries, submitted an interim Demand Response Portfolio proposal to the Hawaii
PUC. 140 Developed in accordance with HECO’s Integrated Demand Response Portfolio
Plan (IDRPP), 141 the proposal provides for a portfolio of demand response program
tariffs as well as a reporting schedule and associated cost recovery. On April 1, 2016,
HECO also submitted its Power Supply Improvement Plan Update to the Hawaii PUC, 142
which includes a proposal to implement a demand response management system to
provide customers with more options and to increase integration of rooftop solar. HECO
also intends to implement demand response management system software by mid-2017
that will serve as the platform for the consolidated demand response programs and
leverage distributed energy resources. 143

https://www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe-responsive/Admin/Managed%20Documents%20&%20PDFs/2015-CODSM-Annual-Status-Report.pdf.
136
Id. at 85-86.
137
In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills/Colorado Electric Utility Company, LP for Approval of
Its Electric Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan for Program Years 2016-2018 and for Approval of Revisions to
Its Electric DSM Cost Adjustment Tariff, Proceeding No. 15A-042E, Decision No. R15-1292, (Colorado PUC, Dec.
8, 2015), available at
https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/efi_p2_v2_demo.show_document?p_dms_document_id=603724&p_session_id
=.
138
Id. at 28.
139
In the Matter of the Application of Black Hills/Colorado Electric Utility Company, LP for Approval of
Its Electric Demand Side Management (DSM) Plan for Program Years 2016-2018 and for Approval of Revisions to
Its Electric DSM Cost Adjustment Tariff, Settlement Agreement, Proceeding No. 15A-042E (Colorado PUC, Sept.
18, 2015).
140
For Approval of Demand Response Program Portfolio Tariff Structure, Reporting Schedule, and Cost
Recovery of Program Costs through the Demand-Side Management Surcharge, Docket No. 2015-0412, (Hawaii
PUC Dec. 30, 2015).
141
In November of 2015, HECO filed its revised IDRPP, along with a consolidated demand response
program application. See Integrated Demand Response Portfolio Plan, Supplement: System Response Requirements
(Revised), Docket No. 2007-0341, (Hawaii PUC Nov. 20, 2015).
142
Instituting a Proceeding to Review the Power Supply Improvement Plans for Hawaiian Electric
Company, Inc., Hawaiian Electric Light Company, Inc., and Maui Electric Company, Limited, Docket No. 20140183, (Hawaii PUC Apr. 1, 2016).
143
Application for Approval to Defer Certain Computer Software Development Costs or a Demand
response Management System, to Accumulate an Allowance for Funds Used During Construction, Etc., Docket No.
2015-0411, (Hawaii PUC Dec. 30, 2015).

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•

Idaho. In March 2016, Idaho Power reported successful operation of all three of its
demand response programs for 2015. 144 The company realized a total demand reduction
of 367 MW from 385 MW of enrolled capacity. 145

•

Illinois. In October 2015, Chicago and Cook County initiated participation in the
Combined Capacity Asset Performance Project (CCAP) pilot in collaboration with the
Environmental Defense Fund and PJM Interconnection. 146 Phase I of the pilot project
combines variable renewable energy resources, distributed energy resources and the
demand response potential of 60 buildings into combined capacity performance assets
that are then bid into the PJM capacity market. 147 Phase II will evaluate the inclusion of
residential buildings using controllable thermostats to create a year-round resource. 148
In December 2015, ComEd partnered with MeterGenius to launch a six-month pilot
program in which a selection of customers are given access to mobile software that
allows them to budget and track their energy use by the hour, day, week, or month, and
also receive monthly communications with customized energy-saving tips. Customers
enrolled in the pilot program participate in energy reduction competitions and earn points
redeemable for gift cards or other energy efficient products. 149 The pilot is one of several
efforts undertaken through ComEd’s “SmartGridExchange” initiative, which is designed
to bring new energy management options to customers and has been developed through
third-party and university partnerships. 150

•

Massachusetts. On January 28, 2016, Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
(DPU) approved state utilities’ 2016-2018 Three Year Energy Efficiency Plans, which
included early efforts to develop new demand response strategies. 151 Two utilities, Cape
Light Compact and National Grid, proposed specific demand response demonstration
projects, and both utilities will explore electric vehicle charging during off-peak times as
a demand response strategy. The Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council,
144

Idaho Power, Annual Demand Side Management 2015 Report, available at
https://www.idahopower.com/EnergyEfficiency/reports.cfm. Note The Idaho Power service area includes portions
of eastern Oregon, and the annual report aggregates data for the two states. Idaho Power’s Oregon-based demand
response programs are approved by the Public Utility Commission of Oregon and funded via the Oregon Rider.
145
Id. at 8.
146
Environmental Defense Fund, Groups Launch Pilot to Demonstrate New Approaches for Demand
Response in Chicago, October 6, 2015, available at https://www.edf.org/media/groups-launch-pilot-demonstratenew-approaches-demand-response-chicago.
147
Andrew Barbeau, Accelerate Group, Combined Capacity Asset Performance Project, PJM Seasonal
Capacity Resources Senior Task Force presentation, June 6, 2016, p. 4, available at
http://www.pjm.com/~/media/committees-groups/task-forces/scrstf/20160606/20160606-item-02-combinedcapacity-asset-performance.ashx.
148
Id.
149
News Release, Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), ComEd and Technology Start-Up
MeterGenius Join Forces to Help Customers Save Energy and Money (Dec.17, 2015), available at
https://www.comed.com/News/Documents/newsroomreleases_12172015.pdf.
150
Id.
151
Three-Year Plans 2016-2018, D.P.U. Docket Nos 15-160 through D.P.U. 15-169, 2016-2018 ThreeYear Energy Efficiency Plans Order, p. 134, (Massachusetts DPU Jan. 28, 2016), available at
http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dpu/energy-efficiency-three-year-plans-order-1-28-16.pdf

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which is charged with reviewing required statewide electric and gas energy efficiency
plans prepared by the state’s utilities, has identified demand response as a priority for
2016 through 2018, 152 and Massachusetts utilities are participating in a demand savings
group to evaluate potential demand response strategies. 153
•

Michigan. In November 2015, Consumers Energy Company filed an application with
the Michigan Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking authority to adjust its rate design
and other tariff related issues. Under Consumers Energy’s current pilot direct load
management tariff, the company is permitted to cycle participants’ air conditioning off
only during certain peak times of the day. 154 Consumers Energy proposed to remove the
time limits and allow cycling at any time. In November 2015, the Michigan PSC found
that the pilot direct load management tariff should be adjusted to authorize curtailment
during off-peak hours, but only if directed by the regional grid operator in an
emergency. 155
Consumers Energy also requested that the limit on callable peak event days under its
dynamic peak pricing (DPP) tariff be removed. The current tariff allows for a maximum
of eight peak event days annually. Consumers Energy argued that limiting the peak days
could result in the disqualification of the DPP program as a load managing resource
(LMR) under MISO’s program. The Michigan PSC denied this request recognizing that
“there may need to be some changes to existing retail tariffs to align with wholesale rules,
but that there may also be opportunities to shape wholesale rules to accommodate
different demand response products at the retail level.” 156 The Michigan PSC held that a
change in the number of event days in the year is not necessary at this time, and directed
Consumers Energy to provide more complete evidence of MISO’s LMR requirements if
it wishes to make changes in the future.

•

New York. In August 2016, ConEd held its first demand response auction as part of the
Brooklyn Queens Neighborhood Program resulting in 10 offers being accepted for 22
MW of demand response by 2018. 157 ConEd undertook the effort to defer the
construction of a $1.2 billion substation, and agreed to pay the demand response
providers amounts ranging from $215 to $988 per kilowatt per year.
As part of Reforming the Energy Vision initiative, National Grid’s July 1, 2016 Initial
Filing to the New York PSC for the Demand Reduction Demonstration Project in the
town of Clifton Park proposes to install advanced meters, which will provide customers
access to near real-time data about their electric consumption, allow valuation of demand
152

Id. at 134.
Id. at 26.
154
In the Matter of the Application of Consumers Energy Company for Authority to Increase its Rates for
the Generation and Distribution of Electricity and for Other Relief, Case No. U-17735, (Michigan PSC Nov. 19,
2015), available at http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/orders/electric/2015/u-17735_11-19-2015.pdf.
155
Id. at 101.
156
Id. at 100.
157
New Release, Con Edison Takes New Approach To Rewarding Customers for Smart Usage, August 5,
2016, available at https://www.coned.com/newsroom/news/pr20160805.asp.
153

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December 2016

response and capacity payments to residential customers, as well enable price signal
services such as peak time rewards and time-of-use and demand rates. 158
•

Oregon. On March 8, 2016, Oregon enrolled comprehensive electric legislation
requiring, in part, that, electric companies, as directed by the Oregon PUC, plan for and
pursue acquisition of cost-effective demand response resources. 159 Oregon PUC staff
held an April 21, 2016 workshop with stakeholders and presented a preliminary
implementation timeline, with demand response programs potentially being considered in
the third quarter of 2017. 160
On April 28, 2016, Portland General Electric (PGE) reported favorable results on the
company’s latest Automated Demand Response (ADR) pilot program to the Oregon
PUC, stating that it learned a tremendous amount about the marketing of demand
response to large customers and the ability of an ADR program to help cost-effectively
meet capacity needs on peak days. 161 PGE requested a one-year extension of the ADR
pilot program, and if results are again favorable, to treat the ADR program in a manner
similar to other power cost and capacity resources. 162

•

Rhode Island. In its 2016 System Reliability Procurement Report, National Grid
proposes to continue its ongoing load curtailment pilot program and is seeking enough
customers to provide 1 MW of load reduction by the end of 2017. If the program is
successful in demonstrating sustained load relief over the six-year pilot period from
2012-2017, the pilot program will defer construction of a new substation feeder estimated
to cost $2.93 million. To increase participation in the remaining two years of the project,
National Grid proposes to continue all incentives offered in 2015, and to begin offering a
limited number of wi-fi thermostats to customers directly and with a reduced customer
co-pay, rather than through the previous mail-in rebate program. 163 National Grid intends
to install 51 kW of planned demand response capacity in 2016. 164 National Grid also
158

Proceeding on Motion of the Commission in Regard to Reforming the Energy Vision, Case No. 14-M0101, National Grid Proposed REV Demonstration Project Filing (New York PSC July 1, 2016), pp. 7-12, available
at http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/Common/ViewDoc.aspx?DocRefId=%7BDE450E2B-D82F-4046-8B79BEAD03927CAB%7D.
159
Oregon State Legislature, 2016 Legislative Session Information, Senate Bill 1547 Enrolled Elimination
of Coal from Electric Supply, available at
https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2016R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB1547/Enrolled
160
Derek Green, Oregon PUC outlines ambitious schedule for implementation of Clean Electricity
programs, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Energy & Environmental Law Blog, April 25, 2016, available at
http://www.energyenvironmentallaw.com/2016/04/25/oregon-puc-outlines-ambitious-schedule-for-implementationof-clean-electricity-programs/
161
In the Matter of Portland General Electric Company’s Automated Demand Response Interim Report,
Docket No. RE 126, UM 1514 PGE/Second Automated Demand Response Interim Report RE 126 (5), (Oregon
PUC Apr. 28, 2016), available at http://edocs.puc.state.or.us/efdocs/HAQ/re126haq111649.pdf
162
Id.
163
The Narragansett Electric Company, d/b/a National Grid 2016 System Reliability Procurement Report,
Docket No. 458, National Grid 2016 System Reliability Procurement Report, (Rhode Island PUC Oct. 15, 2015),
available at http://www.ripuc.org/eventsactions/docket/4581-NGrid-2016-SRP(10-14-15).pdf.
164
Id., National Grid Presentation to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, Dec. 2, 2015, available
at http://www.ripuc.ri.gov/eventsactions/docket/4581-NGrid-Presentation(12-2-15).pdf.

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reports that 85 percent of the planned demand response assumption was met during
demand response events in 2015.
The State of Rhode Island is also seeking assistance in identifying state-owned and other
facilities eligible to provide demand response capabilities that can be enrolled in the ISO
New England forward capacity market. 165

165

State of Rhode Island Department of Administration Division of Purchases, Request for Proposal (RFP)
# 7550564 TITLE: Demand Response Services, April 21, 2015, available at
http://www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/StateAgencyBids/7550564.pdf.

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Chapter 6: Regulatory barriers to improved customer participation in
demand response, peak reduction, and critical period pricing
programs
The 2009 National Assessment of Demand Response Potential 166 and previous annual reports
describe the barriers to customer participation in demand response. The federal government and
state and local governments continue to address outstanding barriers to demand response.
Recent actions are presented below.
•

Implementing Time-based Pricing. As previously reported, several state commissions
(e.g., California PUC and the Massachusetts DPU) have begun to take action to introduce
time-based rate structures for their customers. In the past year, an additional driver for
the deployment of time-based rates gained momentum – state net energy metering
policies. Time-based pricing for customers with rooftop solar panels is being offered as a
compromise to resolve conflicts over state net energy metering policies. For example, in
January 2016, the California PUC issued its decision on net energy metering. 167
According to the new policy, net-metered California solar customers will be required to
move to time-of-use (TOU) rates that charge different prices during different times of the
day. More recently, Xcel Energy and Colorado solar interests filed a compromise in
August 2016 in the utility's general rate case that would avoid new grid fees, prevent cuts
in payments to solar owners, and institute TOU rates, among other changes. 168

•

Lack of Additional Market Opportunities. As previous FERC staff assessments have
found, the vast majority of demand response programs were implemented by electric
utilities and balancing authorities, such as ISOs and RTOs, to act as emergency resources
or to provide opportunities for demand response to directly participate in retail and
wholesale markets. Other opportunities for monetizing demand response were in the
minority and generally lacking. This dynamic is starting to change and additional market
opportunities are beginning to be created for demand response to provide additional
value. The use of demand response to provide distribution-level benefits and deferral of
infrastructure continues in New York. ConEd held its first auction for demand response
capacity under its Brooklyn-Queens Neighborhood Project, which seeks to cut customer
usage to defer a substation investment. In August 2016, ConEd accepted offers for 22
MW of demand reductions from 10 providers. 169 Utilities, such as HECO, are utilizing

166
FERC, A National Assessment of Demand Response Potential, June 2009, available at
http://www.ferc.gov/legal/staff-reports/06-09-demand-response.pdf.
167
Decision Adopting Successor to Net Energy Metering Tariff, Decision 16-01-044, January 28, 2016
Rulemaking 14-07-002, (California PUC Jan 28, 2016), available at
http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Published/G000/M158/K181/158181678.pdf.
168
In the Matter of the Application of Public Service Company of Colorado for Approval of Its Solar
Connect Program, Proceeding No. 16A-0055E, Joint Motion to Consolidate Proceedings, Approve Non-Unanimous
Comprehensive Settlement Agreement, Adopt Procedures, and Unopposed Request for Shortened Response Time at
12, available at https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI.Show_Filing?p_fil=G_678021&p_session_id=.
169
See supra note 169.

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demand response programs as a means to support the integration of distributed energy
resources. New smart devices, such as the Nest smart thermostat, are being increasingly
integrated into utility demand response programs. Nest recently announced a deal with
Southern California Edison to sign up 50,000 of the utility’s customers to a Rush Hour
Rewards program designed to adjust thermostat setting to reduce 50 MW of demand.
Southern California Edison’s customers can receive a bill credit of as much as $125 for
participating. 170
•

Coordination of Federal and State Policies. A lack of coordination among policies at
the federal and state levels could slow the development of demand response resources.
While additional coordination is warranted, progress continues to occur. For example, as
discussed above, the California PUC established the DRAM pilot to include demand
response in the CAISO market. The California PUC’s goal is to integrate all supply-side
demand into CAISO wholesale markets by 2018. 171

170

Nest, Get paid up to $125 without lifting a finger, available at https://nest.com/energypartners/southern-california-edison/.
171
See Supra note 141.

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File Typeapplication/pdf
File TitleASSESSMENT OF DEMAND RESPONSE AND ADVANCED METERING
SubjectFERC Staff Report, ASSESSMENT OF DEMAND RESPONSE AND ADVANCED METERING, Pursuant to Energy Policy Act of 2005 section 1252(e)(3)
AuthorFERC
File Modified2016-12-22
File Created2016-12-22

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