DEMANDING Balance to the Grid | SJVCEO Monthly Playlist
“They’re gonna crash this f-ing grid!”—Me, every single time anyone talks about big electrification or EV plans.
There’s no putting electrification back in the box. And the truth is we shouldn’t want to. The benefits of electrification in terms of human health make it something we have a duty to pursue. Still, when we talk about electrification, we have to talk about the two impacts of our action: load capacity and affordability. This month, we’re focusing on capacity and demand response's role in ensuring enough capacity to meet this ever-growing demand. We can’t be so naïve to think that we can electrify all the things without grid impacts.
Our friends over at ACEEE agree, “For example, a detailed study on PG&E’s system found that to serve EV and residential heat pump loads, one to two upgrades to existing substations per year might be needed in the 2030s, increasing to three to five such upgrades per year in the 2040s across the service area where PG&E provides electricity to about 16 million people.” In an additional study from ACEEE in 2017, “on the Southeast included an aggressive scenario for energy efficiency, solar, and demand response that resulted in no growth in total electric loads through 2040 even with 34% of vehicles being EVs and 24% of fossil fuel-heated homes converted to heat pumps. The efficiency, solar, and demand response canceled out the load growth. With more aggressive EV and heat pump assumptions and with use of industrial heat pumps, there would be load growth.”
Electric vehicles (EV) and industrial heat pumps will be the largest contributors to this new load growth. And here’s the thing—we’re not fighting it. At the SJVCEO, we’re running programs to expand access to both of these technologies. If you’re a valley resident trying to decide if a used EV is right for you, make sure to look into the PG&E Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate program or the SCE Pre-Owned Electric Vehicle Rebate program. If you’re a public agency, the GK12 program for PG&E customers and the SoCalREN Streamlined Savings program if you’re served by SCE.
Demand response refers to balancing the demand on power grids by encouraging customers to shift electricity demand to times when electricity is more plentiful or other demand is lower, typically through prices or monetary incentives. Along with smart grids and energy storage, demand response is an important source of flexibility while managing the impact of variable renewables and growing electricity demand on the stability and reliability of electricity grids. California approved the 2022 Load Management Standards, which aim to support demand side flexibility by requiring the largest utilities and aggregators to offer at least one hourly electricity rate to customers.
The grid has (and will have) demand as our state goals continue to unfold in the next few years. With that, we must look to programs that will “not crash this f-ing grid! “and allow our communities to access DR, IDSM, and electrification opportunities.
Courtney’s Picks:
I have anxiety. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The way I’ve learned to manage anxiety is to acknowledge it, allow the thoughts to happen, and then let them go.
Much like demand response, the first step in managing my own anxiety is to acknowledge there’s too much load on the system. Then, issue a call to bring that use down. In energy it’s a matter of issuing a demand response event and customers and systems responding accordingly. In life and anxiety, it’s doing whatever it is that you need to do to bring your own energy or thoughts down to a manageable level. For me, that often means music. Once I identify those feelings of anxiousness and the possibility to quickly spiral into a panic attack, I know I have go-to songs that help me level out. Whether it’s an intro that always repositions my thought patterns followed by a melody that lowers my heart rate, or lyrics that speak to my overthinking or fear of not knowing, songs have a unique way of quickly rewiring my brain.
Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap
Slow Down, Skip Marley, H.E.R.
To Summer, From Cole—Audio Hug, Summer Walker, J. Cole
WAIT FOR U, Future, Drake, Tems
Sam’s Picks:
You may look at my picks and think, “goodness she is all over the place in what calms her!” and you would be correct! When I’m winding down, I do not gravitate toward just one genre. I need to have a mix that brings up different emotions for me. Hopefully you can dive into my choices and find solace in your own way.
AOK, Tai Verdes
Wonderwall, Oasis
Sway- Chainsmokers Remix, Anna of the North
Pink+ White, Frank Ocean
Kelsey’s Picks:
Songs that create balance or bring me to a sense of calmness were semi difficult to identify. Like demand response, balance is key to make things function properly and these songs help me reach that state!
Delta, Mumford and Sons
Charlie Brown, Coldplay
Fallingwater, Maggie Rogers
Cruise, Kygo and Andrew Jackson
Rochelle’s Picks:
Calm, peace, and control are my thoughts for Demand Response. Without these, there can never truly be balance. If only those sentiments could be reflected in our journey to electrification. A sense of urgency is understandable but sometimes we just have to calm ourselves, take a step back, and listen.
Controlla, Drake
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind, Lauren Hill
Let Me Calm Down (feat. J. Cole), Nicki Minaj
No Stress, Wizkid