Development and implementation of an agricultural load management project: a case study

A direct-control load management project for agricultural irrigation pumps has been developed at Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Pacific Gas & Electric Company has 540 accounts representing >15 MW of connected load on this management project. Preliminary estimates predict that approximately 20% of this loan is available for interruption during peak demand days. The design of this rate option, which is a form of dispatchable time-of-use, has relied heavily on customer input from the project's pilot phase in 1983-85. In addition, the project has been greatly influenced by political special-interest groups. It is concluded that improved marketing methods increased the sales rate by more than 100% from 1985 to 1987, demonstrating that demand-side management projects must be sold much like other products offered in an open market.<>