Nonintrusive Load-Shed Verification

Abstract

Smart-grid support for demand response lets electricity service providers shed loads during peak usage periods with minimal consumer inconvenience. Direct load control is a strategy in which consumers enroll appliances, such as electric water heaters, air conditioners, and electric vehicles, in a program to respond to load-shed instructions in exchange for a discount on electricity prices or other incentives. Direct control's effectiveness depends on the provider's ability to verify that appliances respond to load-shed instructions. Nonintrusive load monitoring, in which electric power meters identify loads generated by specific appliances, provides a practical strategy for load-shed verification in residences. Nonintrusive load-shed verification simplifies the trust assumptions required for direct-control deployment.