Electricity providers face a multitude of challenges when it
comes to controllable loads, at a time
when flexible loads are becoming an increasingly important asset. Co-ops are
facing decisions about how to replace aging demand response (DR) equipment with
new technology to ensure their DR programs will continue to provide value,
while also expanding load control programs as an added service to members and
to help manage the variability of increasing distributed energy resources
(DERs) on their grids.
The growing penetration of “smart” devices — those that can
communicate over a network — is a promising step toward being able to control
loads. But, broad adoption of smart devices for DR or other control scenarios is
challenging for a variety of reasons. One possible solution is the use of the
ANSI/CTA-2045 (formerly CEA-2045) Modular Communications Interface for Energy
Management standard. First published in 2013, the standard allows electricity
providers to communicate with end uses over a standard interface that is
compatible with any current or future communications technology.
This report reviews the standard and provides information on
pilot results.
