Texas REP Source Power & Gas Launches Phase 1 of Smart Grid Strategy

Source Power & Gas LLC (SPG) has announced Phase 1 of its smart grid strategy, which consists of a series of pilot programs.

"In this first phase select residential and small commercial customers of SPG will participate in a pilot program to explore the attributes of ERCOT's smart grid. Once testing is complete, SPG will implement demand response programs across its customer base," Source Power & Gas said in a news release.

Because the programs are pilots, Source Power & Gas declined to disclose specifics, including whether a critical peak rebate or peak-time rebate product is among the pilots. Additionally, Source Power & Gas would not disclose whether a WiFi-enabled thermostat offered as part of the pilot (noted below) allows remote cycling of the customer's air conditioning unit during critical peaks.

Source Power & Gas told Matters that it is, "testing multiple product variations with various customer segments."

Source Power & Gas said in a news release that, "[t]he first phase of SPG's smart grid solution integrates Wi-Fi thermostats and smart meter data."

Source Power & Gas did state in the news release that the products anticipated to result from the pilot will, "provide our customers with their usage and consumption patterns via email as well as monitor their usage and take steps to change consumption patterns that will result in lower electricity usage and thus lower rates, not to mention help the grid when demand peaks" (emphasis added).

Source Power & Gas said that it has engaged DR2, LLC to support its smart grid strategy and offerings.

DR2, LLC said in a news release that, "SPG and its customers will now be able to participate in ERCOT's demand response programs as well as deploy for economic reasons alone."