Demand side management in open electricity markets from retailer viewpoint

In this paper, we have evaluated the incentives and obstacles of the demand side management (DSM) from the viewpoint of the electricity retailers. Research results are based on the questionnaires, workshops, and simulations. Based on our studies, it seems that there exist remarkable amount of controllable loads, and also market places for flexible resources have already been established in Finland. Furthermore, it seems that the economic profitability of the DSM is significantly higher, if resources are utilized in reserve or balancing power markets, instead of the day-ahead spot-markets. However, heterogeneity in stakeholders´ solutions and systems hinder the possibility to control customers´ loads based on the demands of the market places. Moreover, the roles of the stakeholders are unclear, and conflicts of interests seem to exist between the stakeholders.