by New York State Public Service Commission
ALBANY, NY (01/20/2011)(readMedia)– The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today approved changes in Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.’s (Con Edison) demand response programs to increase enrollment, improve response to events, leverage enrollment from New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) demand response program participants and make it easier for customers to participate in the programs.
“Developing a solid demand response program is critically important for Con Edison and the overall New York metropolitan area,” said Commission Chairman Garry Brown. “Not only will these programs help reduce energy demand during peak summer months, it will help offset the need to make costly infrastructure investments and it will help promote environmental justice by reducing air emissions in communities and neighborhoods where power plants are located.” The Commission has long-focused its demand response efforts in the metropolitan New York area where demand response is expected to be the most cost-effective. The area, served by Con Edison, experiences the greatest rate of peak load growth and the highest wholesale energy and capacity costs. The area also relies on numerous peaking generation units, some of which are relatively inefficient and produce high emissions.
