Question Of The Week: Demand Response?

A recent report from Navigant Research forecasts worldwide revenue from demand response programs will grow from $1.6 billion annually in 2014 to $9.7 billion in 2023. “States like New York, Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, and Maryland are at the forefront of grid modernization, and are transforming the utility business model to incentivize more active customer participation in DR programs,” said Brett Feldman, senior research analyst with Navigant Research.

In a demand response program, a utility will offer customers incentives to to reduce their power use in response to the utility’s need for power due to a high, systemwide demand for electricity or emergencies that could affect the transmission grid.

Do you participate in a demand response program, and if so, what are the benefits to your organization? What have been the challenges? If you don’t participate in demand response, would you consider it for your facility?