Taiwan Power Company (TPC) announced yesterday (January 19^th) that the “Organized Reduction in Power Consumption – Flexible Nighttime Reduction” measure will be pushed up from May to March. Having aroused doubts regarding power scarcity, TPC responded today that this measure is actually a demand response solution that bootstraps power spikes through tariff bargains, and has no correlation to power restrictions and consumptions for the public.

TPC announced yesterday that the “Organized Reduction in Power Consumption – Flexible Nighttime Reduction” measure will be moved up to March this year, and only those who are “ultra-high” voltage users of the regular contract capacity of 100kW are able to select their suppressed power consumption period in the unit of month between March 1^st and October 31^st. Users and schools who have selected variable time and electricity tariffs for three-stage peak hours are not eligible.

The three following suppressed power consumption methods are available from TPC’s official website:

• Monday to Friday (apart from off-peak days) 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (continuous suppression for two hours)
• Monday to Friday (apart from off-peak days) 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. (continuous suppression for three hours)
• Monday to Friday (apart from off-peak days) 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (continuous suppression for four hours)

The announcement came under attack by Cheng Che-hsin, Chairman of the KMT Cultural and Communications Committee, who questioned just what is an “organized reduction in power consumption” and whatever happened to the claim that the “power supply is sitting at a healthy level.” TPC issued a corresponding press release today and addressed that the measure should be regarded as a demand response solution, which is a long-term implementation in bootstrapping power spikes through tariff bargains.

TPC commented that the demand response measure targets voluntary high (ultra-high) voltage users with a contract capacity of more than 100kW, who can selectively participate in the feedback measure that reduces electricity tariffs, as well as select their desired time period. The incentive for reduction in electricity tariffs is there for the users, while the overall power supply is benefitted from transfer enhancement and lowered nighttime peak power consumption. It has no relation to power restrictions, and does not affect general power usages for the public, as it is a common method adopted by the power industry of various countries, said TPC.

TPC pointed out that the demand response measure has been implemented for years. Taking 2021 as an example, it pointed out that the measure saw a maximum application of suppressed capacity at 2.65 million kW (August), as well as 1.07 million kW of suppressed power consumption during the day of peak load (July 27^th).

TPC further explained that the execution of the demand response was primarily focused during daytime in the past, and has now further expanded in effectiveness during nighttime in order to elevate the allowance of peak power supply during nighttime. The reason for the early implementation is to allow users to become familiar with the content of the solution and the adjustments of power consumption behaviors. The solution will be effective from March 1^st to October 31^st

TPC commented that off-peak and peak power consumption has been altered alongside gradual grid-connection of renewable energy, and the company, while ensuring continuous and stable power supply, is also dedicated to the management of demand, as well as aims to create power conservation incentives that will reshape power consumption habits.

 (Cover photo source: pixabay)