System and method for generating and providing dispatchable operating reserve energy capacity through use of active load management

1. A method for generating operating reserves of a utility and/or any market participant of an electric power grid servicing one or more service points, the method comprising the steps of:

determining amounts of electric power consumed by at least a first set of devices during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data, and a first power supply value (PSV) associated with each of the first set of devices, the first set of devices being located at the one or more service points;

storing the power consumption data and the first PSV in a repository;

determining that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to at least the first set of devices;

generating, prior to commencement of the control event and under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the first set of devices during a first period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the first period of time;

determining, prior to commencement of the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event based at least on the actual power consumption behavior and a first PSV associated with each of the first set of devices, wherein commercial value for responding to the control event associated with the first set of devices is also determined based on the first PSV associated with each of the first set of devices;

determining, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by a second set of devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data, and a second power supply value (PSV) associated with each of the second set of devices; and

determining, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of available operating reserve based on the projected energy savings, the first PSV associated with each of the first set of devices, the second PSV associated with each of the second set of devices, and the stored power data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: distributing the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the control event.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the utility and/or market participant(s) utilizes at least some renewable energy produced by a renewable energy source and wherein the available operating reserve is distributed to provide regulating reserve during times of under-generation by the renewable energy source.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of: managing distribution of the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the first control event.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that a first control event is to occur comprises the step of: determining that a first control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining projected energy savings comprises the steps of: determining an intermediate projected energy savings for each service point at which one or more devices are to be affected by the control event; and aggregating the intermediate projected energy savings for a plurality of service points to produce the projected energy savings.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining projected energy savings is performed on a service point by service point basis.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining projected energy savings is performed on a utility-wide basis.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of devices includes one or more electric or hybrid electric vehicles.

10. A grid operator that provides electrical service to one or more remotely located service points, each service point including at least one device that consumes power during operation thereof, the grid operator comprising:

a repository; and

at least one processor coupled to the repository, the at least one processor operable to:

determine amounts of electric power consumed by the at least a first set of devices during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data and corresponding power supply values (PSVs) for the at least the first set of devices;

store the power consumption data in the repository;

determine that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to at least the first set of devices; determine, prior to commencement of the control event and under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of at least the first set of devices for a first period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the first period of time;

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event based at least on the actual power consumption behavior and PSVs of at least the first set of devices, wherein commercial value for responding to the control event associated with the first set of devices is also determined based on a first PSV associated with each of the first set of devices;

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by at least a second set of devices located at the one or more service points to produce stored power data and PSVs corresponding to the at least second set of devices; and

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of available operating reserve based on the projected energy savings, the PSVs of the at least first set of devices, the PSVs of the at least second set of devices, and the stored power data.

11. The grid operator of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine that the control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.

12. The grid operator of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to manage distribution of the available operating reserve subsequent to commencement of the control event.

13. A virtual utility operable to offer energy to one or more requesting utilities and/or market participants for an electric power grid for use as operating reserve, the virtual utility comprising:

a repository; and

at least one processor coupled to the repository, the at least one processor operable to:

determine amounts of electric power consumed by a first set of devices during at least one period of time to produce power consumption data and first power supply values (PSVs) corresponding to the first set of devices, the first set of devices being located remotely from the processor;

store the power consumption data in the repository;

determine that a control event is to occur during which a supply of electric power is to be reduced to the first set of devices;

determining, prior to commencement of the control event and under an assumption that the control event is not to occur, power consumption behavior expected of the first set of devices during a first period of time based at least on the stored power consumption data, wherein the control event is expected to occur during the first period of time;

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, projected energy savings resulting from the control event based at least on the power consumption behavior and first PSVs of the first set of devices, wherein commercial value for responding to the control event associated with the first set of devices is determined based on the first PSVs of the first set of devices;

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, amounts of electric power stored by a second set of devices located remotely from the processor to produce stored power data and corresponding second PSVs;

determine, prior to commencement of the control event, an amount of operating reserve based on the projected energy savings, the first PSVs of the first set of devices, the second PSVs of the second set of devices, and the stored power data; and

manage distribution of the amount of operating reserve to at least one of the requesting utilities and/or market participants of the electric power grid subsequent to commencement of the control event.

14. The virtual utility of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further operable to determine that the control event is to occur responsive to receipt of an Automatic Generation Control command.