[BC] Electricity peak shaving

[Chris Gebhardt]

Dana Puopolo wrote:
> I dunno. Some power companies actually offer this to Homeowners. I know that
> when Craig Healy worked at WBRU, one of their SCAs was used to control load
> shedding devices, including ones located in homes.

It's entirely possible there are different programs dependent on the 
utility and what they're set up to do.   Here in Dallas we here a lot 
about what our local operator, Oncor, is doing with so-called "smart 
meters" and broadband-over-powerline technology.  If you have the right 
meter (they're rolling them out over several years) and the right 
equipment installed at your house you can give the power company the 
ability to control water heaters, clothes dryers, air conditioners...

Of course, right now that's couched in lingo about how it will save 
consumers on their energy bills.   I tend to see a darker side.  And I 
think that it's really in its infancy here.  I'm entirely willing to 
believe there are other power companies and grid operators ahead of us 
on this.  ;)

In our situation, we have an electrical load that stays (relatively) 
constant 24x7x365.   The servers are always on, and the CRACs are always 
working to remove the heat they generate.  Getting paid to have a 
generator on site, whether we use it or not, is about the best I can 
hope for.

Chris Gebhardt
VIRTBIZ Internet Services
chris at virtbiz.com | (972) 485-4125