Are Smart Homes More Efficient? Energy Impact Results of California's Residential Automated Demand Response Program

Katherine Wang and Joel Swisher, Rocky Mountain Institute

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Abstract

This paper reviews the technical performance of the Automated Demand Response System (ADRS) pilot program conducted jointly by three major utilities in California. Summer 2005 is the second year of the pilot’s operation using GoodWatts, an advanced, two-way, realtime, comprehensive home energy management system. The continuation of the ADRS pilot into 2005 as directed by the California Public Utilities Commission was intended to allow a comparison of summer 2004 with summer 2005 to evaluate persistence and learning of ADRS technology.

Customers with ADRS technology and subject to dynamic, critical peak pricing rates in the inland (hot) climate zone successfully achieved load reductions compared to control customers without ADRS technology on standard tiered rates. The load reductions were substantial and stable across a range of days and temperatures. Technology appears to be an important driver in reducing load, especially peak period load, for high-consumption stratum homes (i.e. homes with summer average daily usage greater than 24 kWh).