Measurement and control system architecture for electrical energy demand side management

A cluster system architecture for implementing a load shape strategy for demand side management is presented. Modulation of electricity prices, with time-of-use tariffs, is used for inducing low voltage customers shifting their loads according to load shape strategy objectives. The system has a multilevel cluster structure. Each level of the architecture reflects the philosophy of a fully decentralised strategy in which all devices have the same inherent processing capability. Power line communications are proposed for data exchange on the existing distribution low voltage electricity network. Various modulations are discussed and preliminary results of experimentation carried out on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and frequency shift keying modulation in power line communication are presented.