Distributed Intelligence Load Control: Yes or No?

This paper summarizes the key points of discussion raised during a panel session sponsored by the Power Systems Engineering Committee at the Summer Power Meeting in Los Angeles, July 17-22, 1983. The panel examined the trend in information processing toward distributed intelligence for decision making and the impact of this trend on load control programs. The question was raised, "Should this trend toward distributed intelligence in information processing be extended to load control?" A regulator noted that distributed intelligence could help provide rate options for controlling customer's costs. A utility system operator said that some type of telecommunications link to any load controller was essential. A utility consultant said that distributed intelligence could improve the operating characteristics of existing centrally controlled systems. A utility researcher said that distributed intelligence load control programs would be more successful by being more sensitive to the variations in customers' appliance use--at negligible incremental cost.