SmartAC Load Impact Evaluation

This report documents the ex post and ex ante load impact evaluation of Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E) SmartAC™ Program for the year 2014. SmartAC is an air conditioning cycling program that involves the installation of control devices (primarily switches) on central air conditioners (CACs) at residential and small and medium business (SMB) premises. The program formerly offered programmable communicating thermostats (PCTs); a large number of those are still in operation. When a SmartAC event is called, the control devices limit the duty cycles of CAC units, thereby reducing demand. SmartAC customers are also allowed to participate in PG&E’s critical peak pricing program, SmartRate™. For those who do, PG&E’s cycles participants’ air conditioners during the SmartRate peak period from 2 to 7 PM.