News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on US Electricity Markets Aren't Designed to Handle 100% Clean Energy. Parent comment

Re:US Electricity Markets Aren't Designed to Handle 100% Cle... by toomuchtodo on Tuesday July 02, 2019 @11:54AM (#20336307)
Nest partners with utilities to support demand shedding/load response [1]; you get a utility bill credit for allowing the utility to send Nest demand shedding signals when local power demand is high (which suspends your AC cooling cycle for 1-3 hours), but you can override the thermostat setting if you must (you just don't get the credit). Cheaper than firing up a single cycle gas peaker (super expensive, comparatively speaking to base load and renewables).

You don't have to allow the utility to control your consumption automatically, but then you'll be exposed to the real time price of power (not a regulated average as occurred in the past because of dumb meters).

[1] https://support.google.com/googlenest/answer/9244031?hl=en (Google Nest: Learn about Rush Hour Rewards)

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Electricity Markets Aren't Designed to Handle 100% Cle... by briffle on Tuesday July 02, 2019 @01:32PM (#20337375)
I have this on my nest, and one interesting feature, is it turns down the AC to a lower temp a few hours before the 'energy rush hour' so that your house doesn't get as warm.

IE, I have it at 72 deg, a 'energy rush hour' is declared, the nest automatically turns my thermostat to 70 deg an hour or two before, then to 75 deg during the rush hour.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Electricity Markets Aren't Designed to Handle 100% Cle... by HeWhoLurksLate on Tuesday July 02, 2019 @12:37PM (#20336781)
So then could I hook up a load to a Nest and have a regular, dumb thermostat control my house and get those credits without actually doing anything? That doesn't seem too hard to pull off.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:US Electricity Markets Aren't Designed to Handle 100% Cle... by grimjack00 on Tuesday July 02, 2019 @12:43PM (#20336855)
Until the utility upgrades to the next version of demand response software, which notices that you were sent a control message, but your consumption didn't change, so you're no longer eligible for the credit.
[ Parent | on HN ]