South Australian electricity distributor ETSA Utilities has commented that there is an important role for both residential direct load control and advanced electricity metering as Australia endeavors to encourage a more efficient use of energy.
Addressing a national demand management conference in Adelaide, ETSA’s CEO, Lew Owens, said: As the national debate continues as to the value of advanced metering, the key to ensuring the effective management of future infrastructure investment decisions will be power utilities understanding the role that both direct load control, and advanced meters, could play.
Mr Owens also told the conference that the company’s trial of residential direct load control would expand to other areas of Adelaide in summer 2008. The results from last summer’s trial in the Glenelg area of Adelaide are still being finalized. However they have given us enough confidence to move into other suburbs next summer.
The so-called ‘Beat the Peak’ two-summer trial in Glenelg began in December 2006 and targets refrigerated ducted and split system air conditioners. During the six to 10 days of peak summer demand in Adelaide, the units’ compressors are switched off for several minutes during certain hours. The air conditioners’ fans are left running to help maintain comfort levels.
ETSA said that the venture is the largest residential demand management trial in Australia. It is a main component of an A$20.4 million demand management project commissioned by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia, which is being conducted by the company.
Mr Owens said that information on the range of demand management initiatives being conducted by ETSA would be fed into an ongoing review, which is analyzing the role of advanced metering and where direct load control can be utilized to optimum effect.