Just add thousands of car chargers when commuters come home on a warm summer evening. AC's cranked up, cooking dinner, doing laundry, etc. ,etc. The grid can't handle the load reliably now. "Cool Sentry" load shedding will become an every day event.
https://learn.pjm.com/three-priorities/keeping-the-lights-on/how-energy-use-varies
The amount of electricity being used – called load – is affected by many factors, but mostly by temperature and time of day.
In winter and spring, electricity usage starts increasing in the morning around 5 a.m. People begin getting ready for work and school and, on a cold morning, turn the heat up, turn on the hot water or turn on the coffee maker. Multiply these actions by the millions of people PJM serves, and you can see why winter and spring load curves – the patterns of the ups and downs of electricity use through the day – quickly spike in the morning.
In the winter, usage typically declines between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. once buildings have warmed up and outside temperatures begin to rise. The degree to which the load decreases during this time depends on how sunny it is. If it is very sunny, the solar heat helps keep homes and businesses warm with less need to run heating equipment. On the other hand, very cloudy days do not provide this ambient heating. At 5 p.m., when people are getting home, there is another spike in energy use as lights and appliances are turned on at multiple homes and outside temperatures decrease as the sun sets. Load starts dropping off again when people power down to go to bed for the night.
In the summer and fall, electricity use increases gradually through the daytime as outside temperatures increase. The load peaks between 5 and 6 p.m. as people start getting home. Load starts dropping off as the sun and temperature go down because air conditioners are not running as often.
https://smecocoolsentry.com/residential/how_coolsentry_works.php
How CoolSentry Works
Once you schedule an installation, Itron certified technicians will custom install a programmable thermostat inside your home. If you were a participant in the previous Load Management program, we will remove your old load management switches.
You will maintain control of your thermostat. But on selected summer afternoons when the temperature soars, SMECO CoolSentry will activate a "conservation event".
During these times, your thermostat will receive a wireless signal that will put your air conditioner compressor into a "conservation mode". This signal will coordinate your A/C or heat pump with others in the neighborhood to manage electricity use.
During the conservation event, your A/C compressor remains in conservation mode and is cycled at the level you choose when you enroll:
- 50% Cycling means the compressor operates half the time it did prior to the conservation event.
- 75% Cycling means the compressor operates 25% of the time it did prior to the conservation event.
Regardless of which level is chosen, the A/C fan operates continuously throughout the conservation event, circulating air throughout your home.
IF YOU ENROLLED IN SMECO COOLSENTRY BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2015, you have been participating at the 50% Cycling level. If you wish to upgrade to the 75% Cycling level and earn $75 in annual bill credits, click here to make the change online or call 866-921-9474 to speak with a CoolSentry customer service representative.
EmPOWER Maryland programs are funded by a charge on your energy bill. EmPOWER programs can help you reduce your energy consumption and save you money. Learn more about EmPOWER and how you can participate.
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