Powering the Permian – how can ‘Demand Response’ programs help the Texas power grid?

ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The triple digit heat has tapered off here in west Texas…for now.
While the heat isn’t going anywhere any time soon, the price for that higher a/c bill is worth every penny for some, but for others…it’s up for discussion.

ABC Big 2’s Chris Talley spoke with an energy expert about a fairly new concept catching the attention of consumers and the Texas legislature. One, that can save you money all by raising the thermostat a few degrees.

“Now is the right time to while we have everyone’s attention to change the way they think about something as fundamental as electricity,” explained Don Whaley at OhmConnect Energy.

From hurricanes to winter freezes, natural disasters like these have put eyes on the Texas power grid more than ever – especially when residents need their energy the most.
Whaley said while demand for electricity is always increasing, response programs have become more appealing to consumers where there is a need.

“We’re starting to see a shortfall between generation availability and the demand of the grid – that’s 7:00 P.M. 8 o’clock at night. People are home, TVs are on, and we [residential consumers] are using electricity,” explained Whaley.

In the most recent Texas legislative session, Senate Bill 1699 was passed making incentive programs like these more of a reality.

“Very soon, it is realistic to assume that they’ll have a program where if you respond to signals from your retailer and you reduce your consumption – you’ll be incentivized in some way,” explained Whaley.

The bill allows aggregated distributed energy resources to participate in the ERCOT wholesale market without needing to register as a power generation company with the public utility commission of Texas.
Whaley said this is something that could benefit the state as a whole.

“Senate bill 1699 creates a platform where this can be rolled out to every consumer in the state of Texas that’s served by a competitive retailer so Midland/Odessa, Houston, Dallas,” said Whaley.

Whaley told ABC Big 2’s Chris Talley if enough residential households participate to reacting grid conditions and grid pricing that electric consumers could start to have a real impact on that supply/demand balance during those periods when generation just isn’t there to meet the consumer demand.

For more information on Demand Response programs go to ohmconnect.com

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