This service involves optimizing the operation and maintenance of power systems, (including electricity generation, transmission, and distribution), to improve efficiency, reliability, availability and cost-effectiveness. Gan-Dik Engineering Solutions Ltd provides its clients with expert advice and solutions to optimize their power systems viz-a-viz protection and metering,  load forecasting, peak shaving, voltage regulation, power factor correction, and energy management systems.

What is utility load management?

Utility load management is the process of balancing the supply of electricity on the power grid by adjusting or controlling the electrical load rather than the power station output.

For electric utilities, it’s no longer just a game of generating and selling power, but rather one of balancing a complex grid dynamics by understanding the basics of utility load management.

There are multiple electrical generation sources that tie into the grid today. Here are the major ones:

  1. Baseload power plants, such as coal-fired power plants, provide the minimum needed electricity.
  2. Peaking power plants, such as natural gas-fired power plants, meet fluctuating power needs (at peak energy usage times of the day).
  3. Renewables, such as hydropower, wind, biomass, solar and geothermal (not always reliable).
  4. Distributed generation sources that give consumers the option to generate their own power through sources like rooftop solar and small wind turbines.

While this generation mix makes for a very complex electric grid, utilities must still supply reliable power and offer attractive packages to keep current customers and attract new ones. This is accomplished through effective utility load management.

In short, utility load management helps utilities reduce demand for electricity during peak usage times (“peak shaving”), which can save utilities millions of dollars.

Utilities should partner with experts like Gan-Dik Engineering Solutions Ltd to design a utility load management system. The following  key areas are among the many services utilities have access to when partnering with a utility management expert like GAN-DIK to design their load management system:

  1. Customer enrolment
  2. Performance tracking
  3. Capacity forecasting
  4. Dispatch optimization
  5. Device installation scheduling
  6. Device asset management
  7. Work-order management of demand response devices
  8. Work systems Management
  9. Asset management
What to look for in a utility load management system
  • Automation and data integration capabilities
  • The ability to integrate multiple customer systems (meter data management, weather feeds, SCADA, advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), etc.)
  • A system that avoids high peak demand pricing