LOAD ACTING AS A RESOURCE - OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Many Texas operators benefited from interruptible electric rates before deregulation in 2002. Several operators are now participating in a similar program called Load Acting As a Resource (LaaR) and saving 5-10% on monthly electric bills. In the last 30 months only four interruptions have occurred, each lasting between 7 and 22 minutes. LaaR requires onsite monitoring and control equipment along with suitable communication (telemetry) equipment or services, the cost of which often pays out in 1-6 months. Real-time telemetry needed for LaaR can augment or underwrite SCADA deployment. Web-based tools enable customers to participate, monitor and respond to LaaR events with minimal impact on critical production operations.