Feasibility study of residential level demand-side management in Malaysia

Utilities in developing countries face a continual increase in electricity consumption and demand. Macro-level load shedding, applied to the industrial sector, is one mechanism used for peak demand shaving. Unscheduled shedding of load in small-scale industries that rely on electrical energy for production and processing can cause severe production problems. In some areas unscheduled macro-level load shedding is needed, which can cause production problems in small-scale industries that provide meaningful employment in rural and semi-urban areas and are essential to stem excessive mass migration into urban areas. This paper reports on an investigation on the feasibility of implementing micro-level demand-side management at the residential level in a Malaysian utility. Results of the study indicate that, when used in conjunction with industrial and commercial direct load control, residential appliance control provides a viable alternative for electrical utilities in developing countries. Control strategies and communication modalities that can be used are discussed.