This Energy Insights report examines the results of five industry studies testing various curtailment strategies. Many residential direct load control (DLC) programs are operated via switches installed on customers' air conditioners, but with increasing acceptance of programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs), many utilities are offering PCTs as alternatives to switches. The utility industry sometimes looks at the load impacts of different curtailment technologies on DLC programs since both the magnitude and the shape of the impact will differ based on technology. Energy Insights goes one step further. We examine the impact on energy savings, customer comfort, and customer acceptance different cycling strategies, for switches, and reset strategies, for thermostats.

This report ultimately concludes, "Comparable load impacts can be achieved with either technology by using different curtailment strategies. " — Kelly Marrin, Energy Insights senior research analyst, Load Analysis Strategies advisory service

Energy Insights Opinion
In This Report
Situation Overview

Direct Load Control Programs and Technology
Considerations for Customers and Utilities
Methodology

Background

Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Residential Thermostat Pilot
Baltimore Gas and Electric Residential Demand Response Infrastructure Pilot Program
Pacific Gas and Electric SmartAC Program Evaluation
San Diego Gas and Electric Smart Thermostat Program Evaluation
Canadian Centre for Housing Technology Experiment