Customer Portal Use DER

A utility company wants to effectively use the DER System Controllers (DER) installed in customer sites to reduce its contract power purchase during peak load periods. These customers have signed up for net-metering and there are other customers who have signed up for load curtailment during peak demand periods in return for rebates. The utility would use its internal demand projection models and communications with the DER, along with guaranteed buy-back of power agreements and curtailment of major loads during peak periods, to implement economic peak rate power purchase under its contract power purchase agreements.

Description

A western utility has a residential customer base of 1 million meters. The meters are installed in single-family detached housing (SFD), single-family attached housing (SFA), apartment buildings, and mobile homes. The utility wishes to promote the use of renewable resources within its residential and light commercial client base.

The utility has demand relief requirements and has multiple demand response programs in place. It additionally supports active residential conservation programs as well as residential alternate, renewable, and distributed generation.

The results of all of these efforts are reported to the Public Utility Commission as part of their requirements to receive credit in rate base.

The utility decides to provide incentives for the residential and light commercial use of DER System Controllers (DER) by offering a guaranteed buy-back of power under specific conditions. The plan requires the customers to install DER with their own resources and the utility will purchase power delivered to the grid (specified in DER regulations) during periods of high demand.

Additionally the utility offers demand responsive programs wherein customers receive financial incentives for curtailing HVAC, pool pumps, and electric water heaters during peak demand periods.

A specific subset (100 total) of the customers participating in these programs resides on a congested Transmission Service Provider feeder in a specific geographic area of the service territory. Thus it’s advantageous for the utility to “involve” these customers during times of peak demand or high purchase power contractual periods.

Ø They need to know which homes of the 100 have DER installed, the size of the DER (kW) and the type of DER (solar PV, generator, etc.

Ø They need to know which customers have signed net-metering contracts, and which customers participate in incentivized load control programs.

The utility enters into a typical high demand period; ambient temperatures are rising and HVAC loads are increasing. The utility has orchestrated a “smart system” approach and goes through the following procedures.

1. The utility interrogates primary line meters on the Transmission Service Provider feeder and starts to continuously monitor line loading. The utility has developed a model to assess the primary Meter Device load ramp and can predict when the feeder will become overloaded at the monitored rate-of-change. The model predicts that at the present rate of change the line will become critical within one hour.

2. Based on this fact, the utility calls up an internal database for that specific geographic area and determines which customers have DER and how much they have (kW). Based on the database results the utility interrogates the customer portals to assess which units are already on line and which ones are available to be called up (available units must provide an “availability” signal as part of their contract with the utility).

3. The utility notifies the customers that specific DER units will be called up within 30 minutes. The DER is called on line at a specific time and the contractual buy-back rate goes into effect (the rate is guaranteed at 90% of purchase power at that time period, with the 10% differential going into system O&M). Thus the utility is now buying DER power at 90% of a purchase power rate that is determined by calling up the utility’s purchase power contracts interactive spot-power database.

4. The customers net-meters are now supplying the utility enterprise with delivered power for a prescribed time that must be credited to the customer’s account and eventually show up on their monthly invoice as a credit.

5. The utility continues to monitor the primary meters and determines that the acquired DER has slowed the rate of change, but the system will still overload during the peak demand period. Thus it decides to curtail customers participating in ongoing demand reduction programs.

6. The utility interrogates the specific customers on the feeder and determines which customers have controllable loads that are in service. The utility sends out a signal that advises of an upcoming curtailment and then reads the primary Meter Device just before the curtailment signal is sent, and 15 minutes after the curtailment signal is sent.

7. The utility determines that the peak demand problem has been averted and does not elect to purchase expensive power under contract.

8. The billing department now calculates the amount of money to reimburse each DER participating customer based on agreed upon rates and for the measured time period.

9. The billing department calculates the amount of incentives to pay each of the participating DSM customers. Free-riders are subtracted from the customers to be rewarded as are those that overrode the event (an option of the program.)

Steps

#	Event	Name of Process/Activity	Description of Process/Activity	Information Producer	Information Receiver	Name of Info Exchanged	IntelliGrid Architecture Environments
1.1	Transmission Service Provider Feeder Line Meter Device Query	Demand data and HVAC load data	DER system receives ambient temperature, demand data and HVAC load data	Utility Transmission Service Provider data	DER System Controller	Ambient temperature and load data exceeding specified threshold values	DER Monitoring and Control
1.2		Check feeder overload projection	DER system queries utility’s load prediction model	DER System Controller	Load Prediction Model	System data for use by the model	DER Monitoring and Control
1.3		Identifies line at risk of overload	Load prediction model identifies feeder line at risk of overload event	Load Prediction Model	DER System Controller	Information identifying feeder at risk	DER Monitoring and Control
1.4	Identifies feeder line at risk of overload	Activates DER program for identified feeder line	DER system generates trigger to activate DER program for the identified feeder line	DER System Controller	DER Database	Activation trigger for DER program activities	DER Monitoring and Control
2.1	DER and Demand Reduction Program Database Activation Order	DER system determines DER capacity	DER system queries DER database to determine power capacity from customers in the affected segment	DER System Controller , Transmission Service Provider system, DER Database	DER System Controller	Amount and types of power that can be obtained from the customers participating in the DER program	DER Monitoring and Control
2.1.1		Actual available power from the targeted customers	DER system signals identified customers to determine availability	DER System Controller , Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	DER System Controller	Actual available power from the targeted customers	DER Monitoring and Control
2.1.2	DER systems signals to check for availability	Activation alert to customers on pending program activation	DER system alerts customers with available power on system activation in 30 minutes	DER System Controller	Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	Activation alert to customers on pending program activation	DER Monitoring and Control
2.2		Signal to turn on DER equipment at available customer sites	DER system turns on DER equipment at targeted customers’ sites	DER System Controller	Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	Signal to turn on DER equipment at available customer sites	DER Monitoring and Control
2.3		Record energy delivered to the grid	Alert Customer Communication Portal at conforming DER customers to record power delivery	DER System Controller	Customer Communication Portal, Customer Net-Metering Device -Meter Device	Information on amount of power and duration of power delivered to the grid	DER Monitoring and Control
2.4		Delay buying power on spot-market	Signal Purchasing Selling Entity to delay spot-market power purchase	DER System Controller	Purchasing Selling Entity	Delay buying decision for power purchase on spot-market	DER Monitoring and Control
2.5		Determine contract power buy-back rate	Query utility’s spot-market power database to determine contract power rate	Purchase Power Contracts Interactive Spot-Power Spot Price Database -	DER System Controller , DER Database, Customer Billing System	Power buy-back rate applicable to power from customer DER to utility grid	DER Monitoring and Control
2.6		On-going tracking feeder overload	On-going tracking feeder overload condition and load prediction model	Load Prediction Model and Transmission Service Provider Grid	DER System Controller	Status data indicating the need for DER power from customers	DER Monitoring and Control
2.7		Identify Demand Reduction Program Database participating customers	Generate query to Demand Reduction Program Database Database to identify participating customers in the affected grid line	Demand Reduction Program Database	DER System Controller	List of customers participating in the Demand Reduction Program Database load curtailment program	DER Monitoring and Control
2.7.1		Trigger Demand Reduction Program Database load curtailment alert	Trigger Demand Reduction Program Database load curtailment alert signal to participating Demand Reduction Program Database customers	Demand Reduction Program Database	Customer Communication Portal and DLC Switch Controller	Signal alerting identified customers of load curtailment	DER Monitoring and Control
2.7.2	Trigger Demand Reduction Program Database load curtailment alert	Monitor load curtailment	Monitor load curtailment in progress [to ensure customer has not chosen to override the curtailment]	Demand Reduction Program Database	Customer Communication Portal, DLC Switch Controller and Meter Device	Verify load curtailment for the duration of the event	DER Monitoring and Control
2.7.3		Record of curtailment at details at customer site	Alert Customer Communication Portal to record duration and details of load curtailed	Customer Communication Portal	Meter Device and DLC Switch Controller	Record of curtailment at details at customer site	DER Monitoring and Control
3.1	Monitor T&D data	Predict if DER program and Demand Reduction Program Database can be terminated	Load Prediction Model and T &D data indicate DER and Demand Reduction Program Database activation can be terminated	Load Prediction Model and Transmission Service Provider Grid	DER System Controller	Trigger to initiate DER event termination	DER Monitoring and Control
3.2	DER program and Demand Reduction Program Database can be terminated	DER System Controller initiates termination sequencing	DER System Controller initiates orderly sequencing DER program and Demand Reduction Program Database event termination	DER System Controller , DER Database	Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	Message to customer DER unit on shutdown schedule	DER Monitoring and Control
3.2.1		Transmit DER turn-off signal	Transmit DER turn-off signal to each customer as per the schedule	DER System Controller	Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	Signal to individual DER unit to terminate power delivery	DER Monitoring and Control
3.2.1.1	Transmit DER turn-off signal	Confirmation of power delivery turn-off	Confirmation by customer unit of power delivery termination	Customer Communication Portal, DER System Controller	DER System Controller	Positive acknowledgment of system turn-off	DER Monitoring and Control
3.2.2	Transmit Demand Reduction Program Database Order Termination	Transmit signal to turn on curtailed loads	Transmit signal to turn on curtailed loads to participating customers	Demand Reduction Program Database	Customer Communication Portal, DLC Switch Controller	Signal to terminate load curtailment activity	DER Monitoring and Control
3.2.2.1	Transmit signal to turn on curtailed loads	Confirmation of load curtailment	Confirmation of customer of terminating load curtailment	Customer Communication Portal	DER System Controller	Positive acknowledgment of Demand Reduction Program Database event termination	DER Monitoring and Control
3.3		Power delivered during DER event	Customer site transmits net power delivery during DER event	Customer Communication Portal, Customer Net-Metering Device -Meter Device	DER Database	Details of amount of power delivered, duration of power delivered during the DER event	DER Monitoring and Control
3.3.1		Generate power delivery and rate information	Delivered power information and applicable rate data sent to billing system	DER System Controller , DER Database	Customer Billing System	Amount and details of credit to be issued to customer for power delivered during the DER event	DER Monitoring and Control
3.3.1.1		Amount of power purchase avoided due to DER program	Delivered power by customer DER units and peak load averted data to Purchasing Selling Entity	DER Database	Purchasing Selling Entity	Amount of power purchase avoided due to DER program activation	DER Monitoring and Control
3.4	Demand Reduction Program Database Event	Customer site transmits Demand Reduction Program Database event data	Customer site transmits curtailed load data during the Demand Reduction Program Database event	Customer Communication Portal, Meter Device	Demand Reduction Program Database	Details of loads curtailed, duration of curtailment, and amount of power consumption saved	DER Monitoring and Control
3.4.1		Customer site transmits Demand Reduction Program Database event data for billing	Curtailed load and duration information to billing system	Demand Reduction Program Database	Customer Billing System	Amount of credits to be applied to customer for load curtailed during the Demand Reduction Program Database event	DER Monitoring and Control
3.4.1.1		Amount of power purchase avoided due to Demand Reduction Program Database activation	Peak load demand averted data to Purchasing Selling Entity	Demand Reduction Program Database	Purchasing Selling Entity	Amount of power purchase avoided due to Demand Reduction Program Database activation	DER Monitoring and Control
3.4.2		Signal no additional DER power to be purchased	Signal Purchasing Selling Entity that no additional power needs to be purchased	DER System Controller	Purchasing Selling Entity	Finalize decision not to purchase power in spot-power market	DER Monitoring and Control
3.5	DER and Demand Reduction Program Database event	Get credit for DER and Demand Reduction Program Database from Public Utility Commission	Submit total load averted [from DER program and Demand Reduction Program Database activities] to Public Utility Commission for awarding rate credits	DER System Controller , Demand Reduction Program Database	Public Utility Commission	Details of power load averted due to the DER Program and DER activities	DER Monitoring and Control

Customer Services - Consumer Portal - Use Customer DER Function

Contents

Narrative

Overview

Description

Steps

Additional Information

Actor (Stakeholder) Roles

Information exchanged

Activities/Services

Contracts/Regulations