Fairness algorithm for emergency demand response operation in distribution networks

As a response to increased power demand, electrical utilities have started to use Demand Response (DR) programs to improve the stability, efficiency and reliability of their networks. One type of DR, an Emergency Demand Response Program (EDRP), addresses stability challenges by sending curtailment orders to consumers associated with the program. There are different methods for calculating the amount of power that should be curtailed and how it should be divided among consumers. An important aspect of curtailment assignment is fairness, yet there is no agreed-upon manner of achieving fairness in curtailment allocation. This paper presents a new fairness-based EDRP for a residential area. The fairness is manifested in the algorithm by taking into account the number of times and the amount of energy a customer is asked to curtail for a predetermined period of time. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated and verified using simulations.