Load Management Implementation: Decisions, Opportunities and Operation

Wisconsin Electric began its investigation of a load Management System in the last quarter of 1973. The primary emphasis at that time was strictly direct control of customer loads. This investigation resulted in a test installation of 450 points using a two-way power line system to remotely control water heaters and remotely read the electric service meters. This test ran from summer of 1976 to the fourth quarter of 1977. After a successful test, we applied to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) early in 1978 to install a system-wide communication system to control residential and farm water heaters, remotely read meters for T-O-U billing for some commercial customers, perform load survey data gathering, and some limited distribution switching functions. This paper will outline our reasons for getting into this program, the current status and benefits of the program and what we expect out of it in the next few years.