Demand response firms accuse PJM utilities of blocking smart meter data to protect monopoly power
By
@CanaryMediaInc
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
Demand response companies like Voltus and Mission:data have filed a complaint with FERC alleging that utilities in the PJM energy market are blocking access to smart meter data under the guise of customer privacy. The companies argue that utilities are using this as an excuse to protect their monopoly power and stifle competition, since many utilities run their own demand-response programs that compete directly with independent aggregators. The withheld data could unlock gigawatts of grid relief by enabling more effective demand-side energy management.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledUtilities, including many in PJM's territory, have launched their own demand-response programs and time-of-use rates that allow customers to save money by reducing their electric consumption during times of peak demand.
That means they 'participate as direct competitors to competitive aggregators,' Voltus and Mission:data noted in their FERC complaint.
Murray believes that utilities are using customer data privacy as an excuse to protect their own monopoly power.
You might also wanna read
Trump Administration and Governors Push for Emergency Power Auction to Address AI Data Center Demand
The Trump administration and a bipartisan group of Mid-Atlantic governors are pressuring PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. electricity m
The Verge·4mo ago
How utilities shift data center electricity costs onto regular ratepayers
Large tech companies like Google and Meta are securing massive amounts of electricity for AI data centers, and electric utilities are compet
theconversation.com·9mo ago
Google to Temporarily Halt Non-Essential AI Workloads to Ease Power Grid Strain
Google has announced it will pause non-essential AI workloads to protect power grids during high-demand periods, such as heat waves. The com
theregister.com·10mo ago
AI's Growing Energy Demand Puts Strain on US Power Grids Despite Potential Overestimations
The article argues that while concerns about AI's energy consumption may be exaggerated, the rapid growth in electricity demand from tech co
The Verge·8mo agoRules, Not Renewables, Might Explain the Iberian Blackout
Democratic Senators Investigate Data Centers' Impact on Electricity Costs
Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Richard Blumenthal are investigating major tech companies (Google, Microsoft, Am
The Verge·5mo ago