Demand response implementation for remote communities

A demand response system has been installed in the Village of Hartley Bay, a remote community in BC, Canada, with the intent improving overall general dispatch efficiency. This community of 170 people is supplied by a small electrical network that is powered by three diesel generators. The demand response system is being developed to shed or add demand when a predictive algorithm, “the typical curve,” estimates an inefficient peak is to occur. Variable thermostats and 30 amp load controllers were installed in the commercial facilities to shed loads in, e.g., the school, health center, and community center. The total shed capacity is 20 percent of the typical maximum winter demand. Initial results indicate an unnoticed change in level of service to the community and an unexpected benefit of energy conservation with limited rebound and an anticipated energy reduction of up to 3 per cent.