需求响应正在利好。不到两个星期前，美国联邦能源管制委员会（FERC）刚对于宾新马互联关于重复计算问题拒绝作出任何草率的判断，现在FERC在一个不相关行动中，关于重复修正了需求相应的规定，使需求响应可以像批发市场发电资源一样获得收益。
联邦电力法更改适用于区域输电组织（RTO）和独立系统运营商（ISO）有能力来平衡供求，而不是需要更多发电。这些电网运营商将不得不向需求响应提供者支付全部的市场价格（即节点边际价格）。这种支付是实时的和提前的，只要分派需求响应是划算的。
上述调整还需要一段时间。每个RTO和ISO需要确定一个价格水平，在什么时候需求响应比发电更划算。最终价格将于7月22日被确定。
Things are looking up for demand response. Less than two weeks after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission refused to make any rash judgments regarding a double counting issue pertaining to the PJM Interconnection, the regulatory body--in an unrelated action to the double counting initiative--has amended the rules in another area to allow for demand response to receive the same payment as generation resources in wholesale markets.
The change in the Federal Power Act applies to Regional Transmission Organizations and Independent System Operators that have the ability to balance supply and demand instead of calling on more generation. Those grid operators will have to pay the full market price, known as the locational marginal price, to demand response resources in real-time and day-ahead markets as long as dispatching DR is cost-effective.
“Our customers want to know, ‘What is the value of price-based demand response?’ FERC’s final ruling answers that question. It makes it much more attractive to participate in these types of programs,” said Gregg Dixon, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales at EnerNOC. “Going forward, we expect much greater interest in these offerings, from new and existing customers alike.”
While the changes brought cheers from curtailment service providers like EnerNOC, the adjustment will take a while to be put in place. Each RTO and ISO has to determine a price level at which demand response dispatch is cost-effective compared to generation. The tariff changes need to be established by July 22.
“This landmark decision is just the motivation needed to transform the market and empower customers, clearly validating EnergyConnect’s commitment and leadership in price-responsive demand,” Kevin R. Evans, President and CEO, EnergyConnect, said in a statement.
The final rule, however, did not come without heated debate. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking received nearly 3,800 pages of comments debating demand response in the market, including whether the full LMP should be paid at all hours of the day and if a MW saved is truly the same as a MW generated. FERC ruled 'yes' on both accounts.
“Today’s final rule is about bringing benefits to consumers,” FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said in a statement. “The approach to compensating demand response resources as we require here will help to provide more resource options for efficient and reliable system operation, encourage new entry and innovation in energy markets, and spur the deployment of new technologies. All of this contributes to just and reasonable rates.”
Besides the price thresholds that have to be filed by July, the grid operators must also put together studies that look at the requirements for and the effects of this ruling. The study results must be filed with FERC by September 21, 2012. Although DR providers acknowledge that the market won’t change overnight, it didn’t stop them from celebrating.
“Although it may be hard to see the direct implications today,” said Audrey Zibelman, President and CEO of Viridity Energy, “in time we will see that this decision is as important as any in the Commission’s distinguished history, including the decision to open up the energy markets via open access.”
The congratulations weren’t only reserved for FERC, which certainly appears to have the back of demand response given the recent rulings. Many demand response companies also felt that this was confirmation of the maturation of the DR market as a whole.
“The new FERC rule is recognition of the critical role that demand response plays in our nation's energy mix," said R. Blake Young, President and CEO of Comverge. “Demand response can now formally take its place as an equally valuable resource for meeting consumer needs across our electricity grid.”
Let the negawatts flow.