PORT ANGELES — Bonneville Power Administration has selected Port Angeles for a $370,000 cost-sharing pilot project for residential demand response.
Demand response is a method to level spikes of energy consumption during times of peak use, a statement from the city of Port Angeles said.
“BPA is excited to partner with the city of Port Angeles on this pilot project,” said BPA Smart Grid Program Manager Lee Hall in the statement.
“For the region, reducing electricity during peak use periods can ease strain on the federal hydro system.
“That’s important because the demand for electricity use is growing, as are other interests such as protecting fish runs and using the hydro system to help bring in wind power.”
The system would allow electricity consumers to control how and when they use electricity.
“For example, customers can volunteer for programs where the utility is allowed to reduce the energy consumption of certain appliances during times of the day when the demand for electricity is high,” the city statement said.
“Demand response is a subset of smart grid and, in particular, it is one of the primary ways end-users of electricity can participate.”
In March, the plans began to replace meters which could facilitate the changes.
One way power is planned to be saved is through shutting off a small number of water heaters for a few minutes every day when costs are highest
The shutoffs, which would affect between 10 and 15 percent of households for six minutes at a time, would be unnoticeable to residents, city staff said.
Beginning in October 2011, the Bonneville Power Administration will increase its peak-demand rates from between $1.30 and $2.30 per kilowatt to between $8 and $10 per kilowatt.
The tiered rates — which have different costs for different times of day — along with the demand response is expected to ultimately save the city money, the statement said.
The city will work with EES Consulting on the project and will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of demand response, according to the city.
A final report will assist the city in deciding if demand response should be used throughout the city or not, the city said.
