Centralized and decentralized approaches to demand response using smart plugs

Residential customers demand generally vary during the day, causing overloads in the distribution system and increasing energy costs. This paper investigates the use of centralized and decentralized scheduling algorithms to help customers adjusting their consumption pattern in demand response programs with Time-Of-Use Tariff. Two algorithms are proposed, one with centralized information from several smart plugs communicating with a Home Automation Controller, and another one, decentralized, running local on each smart plug. The simulations, that used real data from smart plug prototypes from a Brazilian home, indicate that the use of such algorithms can effectively help residential customers achieve Demand-Side Management goals.