Demand response and its enabling technologies is a hot area right now - both from a business and policy standpoint. But what are its “enabling technologies”. While familiarity with advanced metering and smart thermostats is growing steadily, there are other new technologies or technology applications under the demand response tent that those interested in demand response are looking to understand.

One of these is storage technology, whereby power for peak period usage is produced and stored in ways that create an overall more efficient use of the system to meet peak demands. Another is in communications technologies, where new protocols are being established and technologies developed to allow devices to communicate with each other over short distances, giving home owners and businesses new abilities to monitor and control their end-uses and reach new levels of energy management.

The next offering in the DRCC Webinar Series will examine some of these new technologies and applications - and some of the new companies that are offering them - and discuss how they expand the options that are available to customers, utilities and other parties. Overviews of the technologies will be presented as well as examples of how they have and are being deployed in demand response activities and programs.

Brian Golden, Vice President for Corporate Development for GridPoint, Inc. will talk about his company's application of advanced battery storage in demand response and energy efficiency applications. Gridpoint is developing new “plug and play appliances” that can be used to automatically practice demand response and increase overall system efficiency and reliability.

Greg Tropsa, President of Ice Energy, Inc. will talk about his company's use of thermal storage in modern demand response applications. The company manufactures and markets new products employing ice storage air conditioning that focus on shifting peak demand in a way that is less expensive and less polluting while increasing overall grid efficiency.

Also on this Webinar will be a report by DRCC Executive Director Dan Delurey on the highlights of what is happening on Capitol Hill with respect to Demand Response, as well as a report on how DR was included in the Winter Meetings of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions (NARUC) next week in Washington, DC. Included in the NARUC report will be a report on the meeting of the FERC-NARUC Collaborative on Demand Response being held as part of the NARUC Winter Meetings.

You have two options to register: You can either download the registration form and fax it to 781-756-8008, or you can register online using the link below. This link will allow you to pay for this event using a major credit card. It will also allow State Registrators and staff to register free.

Information and instructions for participting in the webinar will be provided to registrants prior to the webinar.

The DRCC is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the development and exchange of information about demand response.

Members of the DRCC include American Electric Power, Ameren, Hess Corporation, Hunt Power, IBM, ISO-New England, MidAmerican Energy, Midwest ISO, National Grid, NYSERDA, Pacific Gas & Electric, PJM Interconnection, Progress Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric, Salt River Project, Southern California Edison, Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, and Xcel Energy.