Eversource Seeks Approval For Project Integrating Battery Storage, Distributed Resources, And Energy Efficiency

Customer BYOD Component To Be Repeated Across Service Area

August 6, 2019

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Copyright 2010-19 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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Public Service Company of New Hampshire d/b/a Eversource Energy applied at the New Hampshire PUC for preauthorization of a proposed Westmoreland Clean Innovation Project, which would include integration of battery storage, distributed energy resources in the form of demand response, and enhanced energy efficiency.

"The Westmoreland Clean Innovation Project is designed to provide back-up power for hundreds of rural customers and critical town facilities, while avoiding construction of a new electric distribution line and helping to reduce peak energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions for all New Hampshire customers," PSNH said

"The project is a non-wires alternative project, which will serve as an important demonstration for future energy storage projects in New Hampshire," PSNH said

"The Westmoreland Project will involve the creation of a coordinated portfolio comprised of three components: energy efficiency; demand response in the form of a 'bring-your-own-device' program that provides incentives for customer-owned batteries and thermostats; and an Eversource-owned battery-storage unit," PSNH said

"PSNH has developed the concept of establishing a 'Bring Your Own Device' Program ('BYOD') throughout its New Hampshire service territory, with a targeted quantity of 65 kW of such devices in Westmoreland serving as one of the first locations," PSNH said

"The BYOD design would enable PSNH to pay an incentive for verifiable load reductions using a customer-owned behind the meter device based on actual performance (meaning the customer’s behind the meter device actually responded to the utility’s dispatch signal). This design would protect non-participating customers because, where a customer who has received an up-front incentive does not perform, the utility typically has little actual recourse to recoup any of the large upfront funds paid to the participating customer. This outcome represents a loss to all non-participating customers who have paid into the energy efficiency fund. Within the Company’s concept, non-participating customers are protected against non-performance by utilizing a design that only pays for actual dispatches and load reductions rather than an up-front incentive payment," PSNH said

"In this model, PSNH would send a signal to the device manufacturer or customer to execute a command and the device manufacturer or customer will then send a signal to each device to temporarily change their normal operations, resulting in load reductions. PSNH would then pay an incentive based on a customer’s performance. Typical devices that participate in BYOD programs include wi-fi thermostats connected to central cooling systems, behind the meter battery storage systems, water heaters, and electric vehicle chargers. The Company’s goal would be to produce approximately 65 kilowatts of demand reduction in the Town of Westmoreland," PSNH said

"The Company envisions a typical customer offering under the BYOD Program would be as follows: For a customer with an existing wi-fi thermostat and central cooling, PSNH would offer the customer a $25 sign-up bonus and an annual $20 performance payment for allowing PSNH to increase the customer’s thermostat set point by up to 4 degrees for 3 hours at a time, 15-18 times per year," PSNH said

"Similarly, PSNH would pay an incentive to a customer that installed a residential battery storage system and allowed the Company to dispatch that battery some number of hours per year. A typical example would be as follows: A customer installs a Tesla Powerwall and allows PSNH to dispatch the Powerwall multiple times over the summer for PSNH to reduce its annual peak load. The customer would receive 1 $200/kW which translates to earning $1,000/year," PSNH said

Docket DE 19-133

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