1. What is the cost of the meters and other
technology needed to allow it to happen?
2. Are interday price differences sufficient to
justify time of use pricing? This
requires some analytical work to quantify for all states the magnitude of those
differentials. It then requires
combining the analysis of benefits from peak load shifting to the metering
costs needed to allow it to happen.
3. Related to the above question, data might
show sufficient differentials only in times of relative emergency. Will there be enough of those times in
future competitive electricity markets to justify the strategy? Or are the potential savings big enough to
justify having the capability, knowing it will only be used in a few emergency
situations?
4. Would it make sense to target highest users
(Idaho Power’s third and most expensive tier of residential customers) for a
pilot on residential time of use programs?
5. If FERC is so interested in allowing demand side responsiveness as a way of improving the functioning of wholesale markets, why not encourage them to participate somehow in making the funds available for the metering to allow it?
6. FERC wants to allow some aggregation of users to bid their savings into markets as a demand response measure. Still-regulated states counter that customers don’t own those kwh and have no rights to sell them. Is there any compromise or accommodation that would allow FERC to get what it wants without stepping on state retail jurisdiction?
From Coping with the 2000-2001 Energy Crisis, October report of the NWPPC Readiness Steering Committee –
1. Some demand-side actions are good candidates for use in
the future and would have been more effective if they could have been put in
place more quickly. How can we best create or maintain
capability for immediate deployment?
2. Credible accurate information coordinated by government
and utility leaders contributed to demand response by consumers. Can
we document processes and information requirements and responsibilities to
assure that they, too, are immediately available in the future?
M:\BEASTLA\Word Files -- 99-now\Comments-elec\Idaho questions
on demand responsiveness.doc