PG&E to pilot residential water heater load shifting
Pacific Gas & Electric is partnering with distributed energy platform Virtual Peaker on the WatterSaver pilot.
The programme is designed to incentivise customers on a time-of-use (TOU) rate to heat water when electricity prices are lower.
PG&E customers enrolled in a TOU rate plan who sign up for WatterSaver can optimise their energy use and save money by connecting their water heaters via the internet or cellular to the programme.
WatterSaver automatically takes advantage of lower electricity rates, heating water at off-peak times. Participants also receive a $50 gift card for enrolling plus an additional $5 gift card for each month of participation.
Have you read?
PG&E offers backup power meter device
Hawaii to utilise water heaters as part of VPP
The WatterSaver pilot is expected to be the largest programme of its kind in the United States, with up to 9,000 eligible customers. Its goal is to provide up to 2.5MW of peak load reduction by the end of 2025.
“This innovative partnership will add intelligence to otherwise dormant appliances,” comments Aaron August, PG&E’s Vice President of Business Development and Customer Engagement.
“WatterSaver creates grid-connected assets that store thermal energy and shift the load away from peak usage times so our TOU customers have hot water whenever they need it without having to pay peak energy prices.”
WatterSaver is implemented by the Association for Energy Affordability, Virtual Peaker and demand response specialist Energy Solutions and will run to the end of 2025.
“WatterSaver will help the electric grid absorb more renewable energy, flatten the power curve and reduce harmful carbon emissions without impacting customer comfort,” promises Bill Burke, founder and CEO of Virtual Peaker, whose platform is cloud-based.
In February PG&E filed its energy efficiency business plan with the California Public Utilities Commission proposing to deliver $2.1 billion worth of electricity and gas system benefits with an array of energy saving solutions and more personalised customer experiences by 2031.
