Utilities need additional demand response (DR) capacity to avoid rolling blackouts during peak usage periods and meet regulatory requirements. Most existing, commercial lighting does not currently contribute to peak demand reductions. Existing retrofit lighting control solutions are too expensive for DR use, which leaves existing, interior, commercial lighting as a largely untapped DR resource.

CEDR turns this untapped DR resource into a viable DR solution. CEDR makes retrofit installation economical by using existing power wiring to transmit a load shed signal to designated lighting loads. This signal, introduced at the lighting panel and transmitted to receivers installed in existing bi-level light switches, tells receivers to turn off half the lights.

Normal operation: both lamps are on		Load shed operation: CEDR signal broadcast—Only one lamp is on

OBJECTIVE:
To use demand response (DR) to make retrofit installation economical by using existing power wiring to transmit a load shed signal to designated lighting loads, and the signal tells receivers to turn off half the lights

APPLICATIONS:

• Buildings with lighting controlled by bi-level switching, or significant sheddable plug loads
• ESCOs with the above customers
• Utilities requiring more automatic DR capacity

DESCRIPTION/FEATURES:

• Mature, inexpensive, robust, incandescent dimming set to almost full power (low THD) is used as a loadshed signal rather than directly dimming loads
• Inexpensive receivers detect the presence of dimming and turn off the loads
• No commissioning is required; simply hook the sender to the DR trigger signal and the receiver to the sheddable load

REFERENCES:

• LightFair PIER Project Brief
• LCF Program Information and Reports
• Additional technical information
• Licensing: Power Line Phase Cut Signaling