Demand Response

Good Company Associates is working with a growing coalition of companies interested in developing demand response in the ERCOT market.  In 2005, Good Company was instrumental in passage of legislation to clarify the responsibility for implementing the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), and in assuring cost recovery to the transmission and distribution utilities.  The PUCT has adopted a new rule which will encourage widespread deployment of advanced meters in ERCOT over the next 2 to 5 years.

In addition, in order to monetize the value to customers or curtailment providers (avoided cost of generation and fuels) Good Company Associates helped craft changes to the Texas law which now make demand reduction measures, including energy storage systems, eligible for utility efficiency rebates. The Texas PUCT adopted a new efficiency rule incorporating this change on March 26, 2008.

Current initiatives of the Demand Response Texas coalition include:

• Advocating the launch of transmission and distribution utility demand response programs under the new PUCT rule;
• Advocating the expansion of wholesale markets for demand response at ERCOT;
• Ensuring evolving demand response technologies and solutions are accepted into utility and ISO DR programs;
• Ensuring controllable loads are able to participate in multiple demand response programs and receive full value for their contribution to grid reliability (operational) and load management (planning capacity) strategies.
• Advocating automated meter and communication related standards to ensure unimpeded, real time access to meter data, and the evolution of competitive energy-related products and services.
• Obtaining rule changes needed under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality air quality non-attainment area guidelines to allow emergency generators to participate in critical grid reliability programs.

Membership in Demand Response Texas is open to competitive companies or utilities interested in developing a robust demand response capacity in ERCOT.  If you are interested in joining with the following companies in our efforts, contact our project manager.

• Comverge
• Consumer Powerline
• Direct Energy, Home and Business Services
• EnerNOC
• Site Contols