Demand Response Committee Applauds Issuance by FERC of National Action Plan

WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC) applauded the issuance today by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) of a National Action Plan on Demand Response, calling it a significant step on the road to establishment of the smart grid. The DRCC is a non-profit organization formed in 2004 whose mission is to facilitate the exchange of expertise and information on demand response and smart grid.

FERC developed the Plan in response to a provision in the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. EISA called for FERC to develop a Plan that would support further development of demand response as a both a resource for the nation's electricity system and a new energy management option for consumers. The Plan calls for the establishment of new technical assistance and informational resources for demand response practitioners and policymakers. It also calls for the development of support in the area of education and communications, including new research on consumers, and talks about the possibility of a national communications program to help convey why demand response and smart grid are being pursued. FERC issued its Plan today and sent it to Capitol Hill.

"This is an important development," said Dan Delurey, Executive Director of the DRCC.  "Much has been learned about demand response and smart grid in recent years. Research has been done and pilots have been run such that it is clear that one of the ways that the smart grid will be built and put into action is through demand response. Demand response allows the grid to engage with the electricity customer and truly engage the demand side along with the supply side in optimizing the operation of the grid."

Delurey continued, "It must be recognized that as with any plan it will be important how it is implemented, and that is what the smart grid and demand response community must turn to now. For example, more research needs to be done on what consumers—both large and small—want, and we need to know better how to communicate with them. The DRCC has already reached out to other non-profit organizations with a stake in demand response, and several have begun working together on implementation of the Action Plan. Also, implementation of the Plan will be a major focus of the National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid being held in Washington, DC, next week. Hundreds of experts, policymakers and stakeholders will be gathering there to share expertise and information and to provide input on implementation."

More information on the DRCC can be found at www.demandresponsecommittee.org. The DRCC's members are Ameren; American Electric Power; Arizona Public Service; CPower; ISO New England; Itron; Landis+Gyr; Midwest ISO; National Grid; NYSERDA; Pacific Gas & Electric; PJM Interconnection; Progress Energy; Salt River Project; San Diego Gas & Electric; Southern California Edison; Southern Company; Tennessee Valley Authority; Viridity Energy; and Wal-Mart.

The National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid is the premier demand response and smart grid event in the US. It brings together stakeholders from utilities, technology companies, ISOs, Congress, federal and state agencies, environmental groups, and research and consulting firms for two days of in-depth discussions on a broad slate of topics. It is a nonprofit event. The 2010 National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid will be held on June 23 & 24, 2010, at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. More information is available at www.demandresponsetownmeeting.com.

SOURCE Demand Response Coordinating Committee (DRCC)