Test to temporarily limit energy use in households proves positive
Energy provider Lampiris has performed a test in 140,000 households that showed that community co-operation to temporarily limit electricity consumption could avoid brownouts this winter
Brownouts could be avoided
The 140,000 households that took part were notified on Thursday evening by SMS that the test was beginning and asked to limit their consumption by, for example, turning off the TV, turning down the heating and avoiding turning on lights in every room, particularly the toilet. News reports showed residents unplugging appliances and using torches and candles for a couple of hours.
The experiment was designed to replicate the circumstances of a Code Orange, the last step in the federal government’s plan for this winter before a brownout – a timed and controlled switch-off of power. Lampiris’ test was launched to see if the population was ready to co-operate to ultimately avoid brownouts.
According to the company, consumption between 18.00 and 19.30 was 100 to 200 megawatts less than expected. “That’s half of the electricity generated by a small reactor,” said spokesperson Olivier Lechien. “There was a clear positive effect, but we only have general figures of consumption across the whole country, not for the 140,000 participants in particular. It could be that major industrial consumers affected the results. The detailed impact is difficult to measure.”
Lampiris CEO Tom Van de Cruys added that “the test showed that, with good communication, we can work together with consumers on reducing consumption. That could allow us to avoid a switch-off in an emergency situation. There’s no need for people to worry. Simply not doing the laundry or ironing at peak moments makes a big difference.”
photo: ingimage