Case Study: The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)
Today, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District is the nation's sixth largest community-owned electric utility in terms of customers served.
SMUD generates, transmits and distributes electricity and energy services in the California state-capitol region. In keeping with its original goals, SMUD continues to provide stable electric rates and a reliable electric system through a variety of forward-thinking customer offerings.
The Problem: In the spring of 2001, when California electricity prices were soaring, and with the help of a grant from the California Energy Commission, SMUD developed a price-based electricity curtailment program for commercial and industrial customers. Marketed as PowerNet and PowerDirect, this comprehensive program offers customers the opportunity to receive compensation for load reduction when electricity prices are attractive or when SMUD needs to reduce electric load.
The Solution: Stonewater's energy1st services were selected to automate real-time control of lighting, HVAC systems and other equipment for the PowerDirect program. The Internet-based solution allows SMUD to notify customers of near-term prices for a curtailment event, enables customers to pledge hourly load reduction and automates customer load reduction when the customer agrees to participate. The PowerDirect software application is co-branded with SMUD's online identity and design, and is part of an integrated solution from Stonewater Control Systems®, ABB Energy Interactive® and Apogee Interactive® that provides SMUD's Internet-based load management program infrastructure.
The Results: When customers are notified of a curtailment opportunity, they log on to the password-protected PowerDirect web site and view the session duration and hourly prices. They decide on participation and set hourly load reduction commitments. Once the customer pledges participation, SMUD is notified and the customer load reduction devices are scheduled.
When a curtailment session begins, customer loads are automatically shut down, via the energy1st gateway. This eliminates the need for customers to manually turn off equipment, monitor load reduction time periods and ensure that curtailment efforts meet the pledged reduction.
At the end of the session, load items are restored to normal operation. Customer pledges and curtailment activity are stored online for activity tracking and settlement reference.
The PowerDirect program is available year-round, 24 hours a day. It also offers customers the ability to manage and control loads via the Internet and energy1st gateway, even when SMUD is not calling for load curtailment.
This innovative program couples customer profit opportunity with guaranteed load reduction for SMUD. To learn more about SMUD's Power Direct Program, visit them on the Internet at www.smud.org.