March 19, 2024

First CLG meeting of 2024 features discussion on demand response; video available

*The CLG attracts a diverse group of attendees at each of its quarterly meetings, which are free and open to the public.*

The first Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) meeting of 2024 featured a discussion on demand response. Demand resources aim to reduce electricity demand and are divided into active resources, which can be dispatched by ISO New England, and passive resources that save electricity (such as energy efficiency) but can’t adjust to dispatch instructions.

A video recording and summary of the March 6 meeting, held in Portland, Maine, are available online.

*Sonja Birthisel provided the community welcome.*

The meeting began with a community welcome by Sonja Birthisel, director of the Wilson Center at the University of Maine and a CLG Coordinating Committee member.

*Eric Johnson, executive director of External Affairs at ISO New England, shared updates on region’s electricity markets, operations, and system planning.*

Eric Johnson, executive director of External Affairs at ISO New England, provided a regional update that covered markets, operations, system planning, and focused on the topic of demand response. The presentation covered the outcomes of the recent Forward Capacity Auction; insights from the 2050 Transmission Study, which was finalized in February; and data from the 2023 Net Energy and Peak Load by Source report.

*Nathan Phillips, a Consumer Liaison Group Coordinating Committee member, speaks during the meeting.*

The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session.

*Jill Powers, of the California ISO, gave a virtual keynote address titled ‘How California benefits from Demand Response’.*

Jill Powers, sector manager of demand response and distributed energy resources at California ISO (CAISO), delivered the meeting’s keynote address. Powers offered an overview of the roles and responsibilities of CAISO and the potential of demand response to help reduce peak electricity use.

*Panelists answered questions from attendees on the topic of demand response.*

A panel discussion followed, centering on the theme of “Incorporating Demand Response into Electricity Markets and Transmission Planning.” Panelists Ian Burnes, director of strategic initiatives at Efficiency Maine Trust, Doug Hurley, vice president of policy at Icetec Energy Services, and Bradley Swalwell, market and analytics manager at Tangent Energy Solutions, participated in the panel, moderated by Drew Landry, Maine deputy public advocate and CLG coordinating committee member.

*Attendees shared their responses to two questions posed by the CLG coordinating group during the community roundtable portion of the meeting.*

A community roundtable, led by Birthisel, gave attendees an opportunity to discuss two questions on the topic of demand response. Attendees shared their thoughts in written comments displayed at the meeting.

The CLG is a forum for sharing information between the ISO and electricity consumers in New England. Meetings are free and open to the public. The next meeting will be held on June 4 at a location to be announced.