1. National Grid Rhode Island: Piloting Wireless Alternatives
Forging a Successful Program in Difficult Circumstances
April 4th, 2017
Presented by:
Courtney Lane
Antje Flanders

2. Overview of Pilot
Two Feeders out of Tiverton substation serving Tiverton & Little Compton, RI
5,200 customers (80% residential)
Summer afternoon/evening peak
Forecasted to be overloaded during peak hours starting in 2014
Wires solution (substation upgrade): Would have cost $2.9 million in 2014
Least Cost Procurement Law (System Reliability Procurement) allows for NWAs
Non-wires goal: Load relief starting in 2014, up to 1 MW by 2017; defer upgrade to 2018
Plan for NWA filed and approved in 2012
Pilot scheduled to run through 2017

3. Pilot design and program offerings
Energy Efficiency
Targeted marketing to increase volume of existing EE programs
Enhanced incentives for statewide EE programs
Residential and Small-Business energy assessments with direct install measures
Unlimited LEDs
Heat pump water heaters
Pilot specific measures
Window ACs
Window AC Recycling
Demand Response
No-cost WiFi tstats (CAC)
No-cost WiFi tstats and plug load devices (WAC) *discontinued in 2016
Opt-in program with annual bill credit

4. Evaluation of Pilot Program
Opinion Dynamics conducting annual evaluations
First evaluation of 2012 pilot; currently finishing up 2016 evaluation
Focus on:
Marketing strategies and effectiveness
Pilot impacts

5. Where Do Savings Come From?

6. Marketing Efforts

7. Marketing Evaluation: EW Online Survey
Pilot Recall
Annual Online Survey with EnergyWise Participants
Recall of pilot marketing
Importance in participation decision
Used to assess participation lift
Statewide Recall

8. Marketing Evaluation: General Population Survey
Online survey with focus on 2016 marketing efforts
Direct mail
Phone call

9. DR Event Analysis Event impacts based on regression modeling
Central AC
Events: 3-7 pm
Strategy: Set-point increases by 1-3 °F
Window AC
Events: 4-6 pm
Strategy: Units shut off for the duration of the event
Event impacts based on regression modeling

10. DR Event Analysis – Findings
CAC: 13.3% runtime reduction and 0.5 kW savings/thermostat
WAC: 0.04 kW savings per thermostat +
Connectivity issues =
Lower Than Expected Savings
Potential solutions
Real-time connectivity assessment
Pre-cooling season outreach

11. Outlook for pilot Pilot on track to meet goals 2017 Enhancements
Create 1MW of load relief by end of 2017
Defer substation upgrade by 4 years
Projections show deferral until 2018
2017 Enhancements
2017 Plan includes an RFP for 250 kW of load relief.
Results expected in 2017 on coordinated effort with with RI Solarize initiative
Pilot starts
WAC rebates, recycling, plugs
LEDs, DR Events
HPWH
RFP

12. Questions or Comments? Courtney Lane Antje Flanders 781-907-1876
Antje Flanders