GE-Montana pilot targets ways to cut peak demand

GE and a power utility in Montana are teaming up with volunteer households to try and find the most effective and user-friendly ways to help people cut their energy costs.

Under the two-year “FEC Peak Time” pilot program being run by GE Appliances & Lighting and the Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC), some 150 households will agree to test a variety of appliances and strategies to see which work best in helping to cut power bills, especially during times of peak demand.

Peak time, when a utility sees a surge in electricity demand, generally occurs between 5 and 7 pm, when people return home from work.

As part of the pilot, participating households will each receive a GE Nucleus energy manager, a GE programmable thermostat and a GE Profile washer, dryer and dishwasher enabled with Brillion technology. They’ll also have the opportunity to try out FEC Peak Time rebates, and to deploy their own energy networks.

“The Co-op’s goal, through this pilot, and with the help of GE innovation, is to offer our members tools for greater control over their peak-time energy consumption, helping them save money and ensuring better overall energy management of the Co-op,” said Russ Schneider, FEC project manager. “What we learn will benefit all our members and the region.”

FEC included GE smart-grid-enabled appliances in the project because clothes-drying, dishwashing and water heating can add significantly to household peak-time demand even when other factors drive overall electrical consumption. In the past, energy-efficiency measures have been focused on reducing overall energy consumption regardless of when it occurs. The FEC pilot is based on the assumption that the incentive for conserving peak-period energy is much greater.

GE’s Nucleus energy manager provides near-real-time information about home energy use. The technology will be enabled to receive “Peak Event” rebate periods from FEC’s system. The aim is to provide customers with insights for making better energy decisions, reducing peak-time energy consumption and saving money.

The pilot is part of a cooperative effort involving Bonneville Power Administration and the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project, which is partially funded by the federal stimulus program (the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or ARRA).