The effects of time-varying electricity tariffs on emissions in New York City

Demand response has been demonstrated as a valuable resource for ensuring electric system reliability, deferring capacity upgrades, and improving cost efficiency. We quantify the emissions impact of residential demand response due to the implementation of time-varying electricity tariffs. Published demand response rates are used to model the effect of aggregate residential demand response on transmission system level loads. GE MAPS is used to model the electric grid and identify changes in the dispatch of generation due to demand response. We find that demand response substantially reduces power generation by peaking electricity units during peak hours. Further, we find that nitrogen oxide emissions in New York City fall by an average of 1.5 metric tons and particulate matter emissions fall by 0.02 metric tons on days when demand response is triggered. The peak electricity generating units (EGUs) responsible for emissions reductions have been identified as potentially causing substantially more health impacts per unit of emissions than other in-city generators.