Self-controlled Exploitation of Energy Cost saving Potentials by Implementing Distributed Demand Side Management

Facing the shortage of energy resources and rising energy costs, it is crucial to increase the efficiency of energy usage. Daily consumption peaks in electrical power grids result in the necessity to maintain overcapacities that are only temporarily used. Although already deregulated, today's power markets still lack incentive for large consumer groups to avoid peak consumption. This paper discusses a distributed and integrated load management infrastructure based on a self-controlled load shifting strategy which aims to reduce peak consumption. Essential for its effective and flexible operation is the proposed communication infrastructure, which will enable a flow of information in addition to the flow of energy in national and international power grids. This low-cost and maintenance-free infrastructure will carry real-time pricing information and allow load management appliances to communicate with each other. As a result, the consumer can take part in the energy business and profit from shifting part of the daily load to off-peak hours.