Depending on where you live, every dollar spent on demand response could save up to $4, according to a new Advanced Energy Economy report. So what needs to happen in order to expand demand response’s penetration? In this featured story from utility drive the group tapped Navigant to examine demand response in Illinois and Massachusetts, in an attempt to put a value on peak load management efforts, quantify the potential impact to consumers and determine how the resource can meet carbon goals.
Ultimately, the group concluded that demand response is a proven resource that needs more attention from state regulators. As the efficiency saying goes, the cheapest megawatt is the one we don’t use. In demand response parlance, the most expensive megawatt is the last one we need.
