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Honeywell to Deliver Demand Response Program to Baltimore Gas and Electric
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UtilityPRO™ thermostat will help reduce peak energy consumption and drive savings for thousands of households
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), a subsidiary of Constellation
Energy, selected Honeywell to provide marketing, installation and call center
support for the utility’s residential Demand Response Infrastructure (DRI)
program. The new Honeywell UtilityPROTM thermostat also will be a
key incentive for the program, which will help cut energy costs for
participating customers and give the utility greater control of peak
consumption on hot days when air conditioning use strains the power grid.
BGE and Honeywell expect to enroll an estimated 420,000 customers in the
program, almost 50 percent of the utility’s residential customer base with
central air conditioning. This is 20 to 30 percent above typical demand
response participation, making this one of the country’s largest and most
significant residential programs to date. BGE estimates its DRI program will
reduce over 600 megawatts of peak energy use by 2012, equivalent to the
generation capacity of a small- to mid-sized power plant.
"BGE's DRI program is part of our overall effort to transform and expand
customer options for reducing energy costs and managing energy usage,” said
David Greenberg, principal electric supply analyst and project lead for BGE’s
DRI program. "In January 2007, BGE announced its Smart Energy Savers
ProgramSM which is comprised of three initiatives: Demand Response
Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency/Conservation, and Advanced Metering
Infrastructure/Dynamic Pricing. Combined these programs will make a significant
difference in reducing energy usage and helping customers lower their energy
bills. This benefits individual customers, facilitates better management of the
power grid, as well as improves the environment."
BGE customers who enroll in the program can receive a professionally installed
Honeywell UtilityPRO - a digital touchscreen thermostat designed specifically
for demand response programs. UtilityPRO features wireless technology that lets
BGE communicate with the thermostats, and cycle air conditioners on and off for
brief intervals. The change in temperature in the home is hardly noticeable,
and the cycling helps limit energy consumption on the hottest spring and summer
days.
In return, BGE customers receive a thermostat that can reduce energy costs up
to 20 percent. Built on the same platform as Honeywell VisionPROTM,
the best-selling, award-winning programmable thermostat, UtilityPRO features
intuitive touchscreen interaction and a large, easy-to-read backlit display. It
also offers online programming capabilities so users can adjust settings via
the Internet.
BGE can send customized text messages to the thermostats as well - an industry
first. For example, the utility could send weather forecasts to customers, or
updates on other energy efficiency and conservation programs. In addition, BGE
could provide customers with billing data, including current rates and
month-to-date charges.
Customers also can opt for a switch that connects directly to the air
conditioner. The switch functions similar to the thermostat, cycling the
equipment on and off.
Honeywell Utility Solutions will manage certain aspects of the BGE program,
including an integrated marketing plan that will use advertising, direct mail,
Web outreach and community events to reach customers. In addition, the company
will schedule appointments, install the thermostats and switches, and provide
customer service and ongoing maintenance. And it will supply the IT backbone to
track all activity and give the utility a single view of the entire
program.
Honeywell expects to install the thermostats and switches in less than four
years.
"The growing challenge of managing energy consumption requires an assertive
answer, which is exactly what we’re delivering to Baltimore Gas and Electric,”
said Kent Anson, vice president of Global Energy for Honeywell Building
Solutions. “As the leader in demand response, we have the state-of-the art
technology, expert support and comprehensive marketing services necessary to
successfully implement a program of this magnitude."
For more information, visit www.honeywell.com/utility.
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