(FARMINGTON, Conn. Nov. 12) -- Carrier today announced the launch of its ComfortChoice demand-side management pilot program with San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), a regulated distribution utility providing electric and natural gas service in San Diego and southern Orange counties. Through the pilot program, scheduled to begin this month, SDG&E will install 5,000 Carrier ComfortChoice Energy Management Systems (EMi's) in area households. The pilot is expected to run through the end of 2004.
"The ComfortChoice program was chosen from a group of more than 20 vendors because it meets our requirements for a complete, turn-key solution that helps our customers make an easy transition to becoming more energy efficient," said Yole Whiting, director of consumer programs and services at SDG&E.
ComfortChoice, jointly marketed by Carrier and Silicon Energy, is the first Internet-based demand side management solution that uses two-way wireless communication. It features the installation of a Carrier seven-day Internet-communicating programmable thermostat. Using a web interface developed by Silicon Energy, an energy provider (such as SDG&E) accesses a program to "curtail" demand either through temperature offsets or by cycling the system on and off.
For example, to reduce demand during a power watch or energy emergency, an energy provider might increase thermostat settings anywhere from two to six degrees in participating homes and businesses. By raising the temperature settings during these periods, the connected HVAC equipment runs less frequently, saving energy, and cutting back on energy costs for the end user.
If desired, the customer can override the energy curtailment either by adjusting their thermostat locally, or by using an innovative Internet interface developed by Carrier, accessible via any standard web browser. In addition to overriding curtailments, customers can use the web interface to obtain HVAC equipment status or change system settings such as temperature, on/off status and heat/cool mode.
The ComfortChoice two-way wireless technology enables energy providers to send curtailment messages, and verify system operation, message receipt, curtailment participation or overrides and load reduction.
"By using Carrier's ComfortChoice energy demand management solution, SDG&E is making progressive and proactive efforts to reduce electricity demand during peak periods, ensuring a more reliable power supply and helping its customers stay in control of their energy usage," said Ken Fox, vice president and general manager of Carrier Electronics.
A large scale ComfortChoice deployment is currently underway with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), a major northeast energy provider. With prolonged heat waves straining energy delivery capacities across the nation this past summer, a number of energy providers have implemented successful pilot programs using the ComfortChoice solution, including Con Edison of New York and The NewPower Company in Pennsylvania
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