Conservation voltage reduction potential in the Pacific Northwest

A study which dealt with the implementation of conservation voltage reduction (CVR) throughout the Pacific Northwest of the US, which would provide a significant level of electric energy conservation in the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) service area, is summarized. This resource was estimated by developing supply curves showing the magnitude of energy savings as a function of CVR implementation cost. Energy savings were estimated for residential, commercial, agricultural irrigation, and industrial consumer classes. Using the convention of expressing energy conservation in average megawatts (AMW), the CVR conservation resource in the region was estimated to be between 170 and 268 AMW at a cost of 5 cents/kWh. Estimates were also made for the contribution of major load sectors to the total CVR resource. Approximately 55% of the total was estimated to be available in the residential sector. Contributions by the other sectors considered were as follows: commercial, 29%; industrial, 14%; and agricultural irrigation, 2%. A large portion (142 to 230 AMW) of the conservation resource would be available at less than 1 cent/kWh. A median estimate of the regional CVR resource at 1 cent/kWh (179 AMW) exceeds the conservation potential (150 AMW) expected from the possible implementation of major efficiency improvements (reconductoring, transformer replacement, and voltage upgrading) on Pacific Northwest transmission and distribution (T&D) systems. It is also shown that CVR can be more effective than conventional demand-side management measures in reducing system peak load.