Stakeholders will attempt to develop more accurate measurement and verification of residential demand response under a problem statement approved by the Market Implementation Committee last week.

PJM currently measures load reductions for much of its residential DR based on data that was compiled more than a decade ago in Maryland and New Jersey.

PJM’s Shira Horowitz said the data is no longer representative because of the growth of PJM’s footprint, changes in DR programs and increases in the energy efficiency of air conditioners and other appliances.

The old data were collected based on legacy “direct load control” (DLC) programs. Residential demand response now includes use of smart meters and programmable thermostats.

Some stakeholders questioned why PJM wants the review to include firm service level (FSL) and guaranteed load drop (GLD) programs in addition to DLC.

“I’m not seeing any concerns with the other two verifications,” said one stakeholder. “I’m struggling with why we want to expand this past DLC programs.”

Pete Langbein, of PJM, said the RTO wants to take a holistic approach to the issue.

“Residential [DR] is unique. We’re not dealing with a few thousand customers, we’re looking at millions,” he said. “From PJM’s standpoint, we don’t think we should limit this to DLC.”

Residential demand response supplies about 1,000 MW of capacity in PJM.