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Demand-response (DR) programs, in which facilities reduce their electric loads in response to a utility signal, represent a powerful tool for cutting peak demand and reducing stress on the electric power grid. It is also an effective strategy for customers to control energy costs. Lighting reductions can be a significant element of DR programs because lighting use coincides with periods of peak demand, and light levels can be reduced significantly for short periods with little impact on a building’s occupants. Commercially available advanced lighting-control systems can be used today to reduce demand, but the cost, the potential savings, and the best way to implement these systems have not been adequately defined. technologies considered included land-line phones, text messaging, commercial and dedicated radio, pagers, powerline communications, TV cable, and satellite.
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