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Site Controls Highlighted in Demand Response Report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Demand Response Research Center

Study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Demonstrates Site Controls'
Automated Demand Response Strategies for Retail Chains

AUSTIN, TX – April 16, 2009 – Continued stress on the US electricity grid is prompting the industry to search for innovative ways to reduce energy usage during critical peak periods. Demand Response, whereby companies voluntarily limit energy use for a specific time period, is growing in importance as a tool for ensuring grid stability. For many retailers, the Demand Response methods that are currently in use are manual or only semi-automated, which reduces their effectiveness and jeopardizes a comfortable shopping experience for their customers.

However, according to a new report, “Automation of Capacity Bidding with an Aggregator Using Open Automated Demand Response,” automation is not only possible, but is being successfully demonstrated in practice. The report, prepared for the California Energy Commission by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Demand Response Research Center, focuses on
a successful test that automated the Capacity Bidding Process (CBP) which is a reliability-based demand response program. The test involved San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) and energy management solution provider Site Controls, in which Site Controls is highlighted as a leading automated Demand Response aggregator. 

During the test, Site Controls was able to demonstrate a fully automated system for load reduction across multiple locations.  See below for select excerpts from the report:

• "While one of the aggregators was not able to identify any sites within their portfolio, the other (Site Controls) had fully automated all of their sites and so could participate in CBP (Capacity Bidding Program) with full automation.

• "Site Controls has already equipped their entire CBP portfolio to automated CBP. They report that they can achieve 4 MW of DR from these 8.4 MW of total demand with an approximate 50 percent shed for the one- to four-hour duration period."

• "Site Controls developed a software client within a short amount of time. Since their communication infrastructure is very similar to the one being used by DRAS and its clients, the software developer was able to develop their clients in a few days."

Chain retail stores equipped with Site Controls’ hardware and software, which automatically control the stores’ thermostats and lighting, simulated a Demand Response or “grid emergency” event. The event mimicked a situation in which the electrical grid reaches a crisis point – for example, when too many air conditioners are churning on a hot summer day.  The participating stores determined in advance how much power they would be willing to shed during the event, placing a “bid” with the utility to reduce their consumption by a set amount.  A computer system at SDG&E then sent an automated “Demand Response” signal to a centralized system at Site Controls, which in turn automatically turned off a pre-determined number of overhead lights and raised the thermostat settings at the stores.

The success of the test is good news for retailers that are struggling in a down economy.  Site Controls’ solutions help retailers reduce their electrical costs by 15 – 25 percent, with a complete payback through energy savings alone in 18 – 24 months – savings that flow directly to the bottom line.  Additional savings can be gained through fewer maintenance calls and less equipment downtime. Retailers can also reap financial incentives that are increasingly being offered by utilities to commercial consumers willing to participate in Demand Response programs such as those simulated in the study. 

“We are proud to have showcased our intelligent demand response capabilities alongside Lawrence Berkeley Labs and San Diego Gas & Electric,” said Dan Sharplin, CEO, Site Controls.  “Site Controls continues to help retailers generate the maximum cash payback for demand response activities, in addition to playing a significant role in preserving the energy grid while realizing the bottom-line benefits of lower energy consumption.”

To download a copy of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, visit http://www.site-controls.com/berkeleysignup.php.

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About Site Controls, LLC
Site Controls is the leading provider of enterprise-wide energy management and facilities intelligence solutions for chain retailers and branch banks. Site Controls’ Site-Command™ above-site energy management platform monitors and controls major energy-consuming devices such as HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, signage and more to drive down energy and maintenance costs. Site Controls energy management solutions incorporate energy efficiency, corporate social responsibility, comfort and controls, operational intelligence, and demand response services. By providing persistent real-time access, visibility and control over thousands of assets and sites, Site Controls helps chain retailers and branch banks create a compelling customer experience while simultaneously saving money, reducing emissions, and improving business efficiency. For more information about Site Controls, visit www.site-controls.com.

Contact:

Kellie Thomas
Site Controls
kthomas@sitecontrols.com
512.306.9400

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Site Controls, LLC
7004 Bee Caves Road,
Building 2, Suite 200
Austin, Texas 78746