Demand Response Programs Balance Supply and Demand, and Improve Energy Efficiency

Nov. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Phoenix, AZ, – Demand response holds the potential to improve energy efficiency, and minimize the environmental impact of power generation, according to a new report Energy Efficiency & Demand Response Programs .

Demand for electricity may outpace supply in periods of extreme weather, or in case of damaged transmission lines. Utilities suffering from these critical emergency situations that often result in power failures, blackouts or brownouts as a result of overload must respond with new solutions. Adding capacity is often impractical because of cost or environmental concerns. Demand response technology, by balancing usage, solves these problems, and the utility industry is already moving towards expanding the development of demand response programs.

Achieving energy efficiency is not only essential to the environment, it is also essential to the economy. U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a recent World Economic Forum report, “For the next few decades, energy efficiency is one of the lowest cost options for reducing U.S. carbon emissions. Many studies have concluded that energy efficiency can save both energy and money.”

Demand response, already in use by several utility providers, provides incentives for energy users who reduce energy use during peak time. On a large scale, demand response allows the utility to better manage load, avoid power interruptions, and balance supply and demand.

Already, the utility industry has embraced the concept with new programs and technologies, and regulators support expanded use of demand response. The report examines both demand response technologies and strategies, and energy efficiency, and how the two are interrelated.

The report Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs is available at

http://EnergyBusinessReports.com/shop/Energy-Efficiency-D...

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Energy Business Reports publishes cutting-edge business research and analysis reports in the global energy industry including power, oil and gas, and renewables markets.