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M2M Communications

Agricultural Load Control Program in California Central Valley Grid

Abstract

Beginning in March 2010, M2M Communications (M2M) developed and installed two-way, web-to-wireless load-control devices as part of the Peak Energy Agriculture Rewards (PEAR) program, an agricultural demand response program in California’s Central Valley. The program was marketed to agricultural customers within Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE) service territories and ran through April 2011. The controllers collected real-time information on water use and soil conditions, enabling farmers to make informed decisions as to whether they could participate in peak demand response vents and earn cash incentives. The load-control devices turned irrigation pumps off and on in response to announcements of critical peak events.

Contact Information

Sheri Edmond
Manager of Field Operations
M2M Communications Corporationsedmond@m2mcomm.com



Recipient Team Project Website: http://pearcalifornia.com

At-A-Glance
Recipient: M2M Communications
HQ State: California
NERC Region: WECC
Total Budget: $4,343,420
Federal Share: $2,171,710
 
Funding Program:
Project Type:
 
Equipment:
Targeted Benefits:
  • Reduced Electricity Costs for Customers
  • Reduced Costs from Equipment Failures, Distribution Line Losses, and Theft
  • Optimized Generator Operation
  • Deferred Investment in Generation Capacity Expansion
  • Reduced Ancillary Service Cost
  • Reduced Greenhouse Gas and Criteria Pollutant Emissions
 

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