FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[SALT LAKE CITY, JAN. 17, 2024] – As electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to increase, there are opportunities to leverage this transition to manage demand for electricity on the power grid. The Utah Public Service Commission recently approved a new Electric Vehicle Demand Response Program proposed by Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) as a three-year pilot program.

Utah Clean Energy and the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project supports this new EV Demand Response Program and are excited to see how the program helps to support the grid and the insight it will provide into how EVs may impact the electric grid as adoption increases. Controllable EV charging programs can provide many benefits to the grid and will become an important part of utility demand response programs in the future.

The program will provide incentives to EV owners within the RMP territory who opt into the program by authorizing RMP to stop charging with little or no advanced notice during short (5-15 minutes) curtailment events. The program is intended to provide peak load reduction and other grid services to help the overall management of the power grid, and is similar to other demand response programs in place, such as RMP’s Cool Keeper and Irrigation Load Control programs. Once data is gathered through the pilot program to support a permanent program, RMP plans to make a filing to request approval to add the program to its ongoing portfolio. The pilot program became effective January 1, 2024.

To learn more about the program, visit Docket No. 23-035-T11: RMP’s Proposed Changes to Electric Service Schedule No. 114, Load Management Program.

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Media Contacts:
Kelbe Goupil, Utah Clean Energy | kelbe@utahcleanenergy.org
Kevin Emerson, Utah Clean Energy | kevin@utahcleanenergy.org

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Utah Clean Energy (UCE) works to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency in Utah and the Western Region. It is the state’s independent resource for clean energy policy, regulatory, and consumer information. utahcleanenergy.org

The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a public interest organization promoting greater energy efficiency and clean transportation in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. swenergy.org

SWEEP partners with UCE on energy efficiency matters in Utah.