ALBANY — In advance of Earth Day, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved enhancements to New York State’s Dynamic Load Management (DLM) programs to expand customer participation and resulting cost savings, improve operational efficiency, and better align demand response dispatch with evolving system conditions. The umbrella of DLM programs encompasses the broader suite of utility demand response programs administered under the proceeding, including the Commercial System Relief Program (CSRP), Distribution Load Relief Program (DLRP), Direct Load Control (DLC) program, and the Term-Dynamic Load Management (Term-DLM) and Auto-Dynamic Load Management (Auto-DLM) programs.
“Dynamic load management provides substantial benefits to customers, the electric system, distribution utilities, and the State,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “The benefits of these programs support New York’s nation-leading clean energy goals while reducing emissions across the state and helping to lower the customer’s total utility bill.”
The approved program modifications and directives will simultaneously enhance the utilities’ ability to manage peak demand, maintain system reliability, and fortify a resource pool that serves as an alternative to reliance on higher emitting resources during periods of elevated demand. The benefits of increased utilization of flexible demand-side resources are as multifaceted as they are critical and are particularly important as an affordability tool from the perspective of avoided system costs and direct compensation for participating customers. The Commission’s action today adds to the state’s long history of integrating demand response as an essential feature of New York’s electricity grid and continues the ongoing recognition of these resources and programs as a vital component of the innovation required to support the state’s climate progress.
The Commission approved several measures, including approval of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.’s (Con Edison) expansion of its DLC Program to include a Bring Your Own Battery (BYOB) option, enabling customer-sited energy storage to participate in demand response; approval of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation d/b/a National Grid’s (National Grid) transition to net load forecasting and targeted program updates; and approval of a request by Con Edison, National Grid, and Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. to eliminate certain administrative reporting requirements to streamline program administration while maintaining Commission oversight.
The Commission also reviewed the Term- and Auto-DLM Programs, which are designed to support energy storage participation through longer-term demand response opportunities. Building on utility experience to date, the Commission directed the utilities to provide additional data and evaluation of these programs to support continued refinement with the goal of ensuring the programs achieve intended performance and participation outcomes while delivering meaningful benefits to customers.
DLM programs continue to support New York’s energy, capacity, reliability, and affordability goals by reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods, lowering system costs, enhancing reliability, and reducing emissions from higher-emitting resources while providing financial benefits to customers. As these programs evolve, greater customer participation will support a more flexible, distributed, and responsive electric system.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 18-E-0130; 14-E-0423 or 00-E-2054 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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26042/18-E-0130; 14-E-0423; 00-E-2054
