Demand Side Management (DSM) is the electricity industry's term for the efforts utilities make to reduce total demand for electricity, as well as shift demand from peak periods to other times of the day. Both of these DSM measures reduce total demand for electricity, which, in turn, helps reduce the need for new power plants and transmission
lines. Shifting demand from peak periods to other times of the day has much the same effect, since integrated electricity systems have to be built to resource the peak.
In 2007, ENMAX Corporation actively advanced DSM initiatives in several ways. Our company is pioneering the introduction in Alberta of smart meters, which (among other things) will enable lower prices to be charged for electricity in off-peak periods, helping shift demand away from the peak.
We also advanced our plans to launch a micro-generation business, which will enable customers to generate much of their own power in a very energy-efficient way, reducing both waste and the need for large centralized power plants and their associated transmission lines. The associated use of smart meters will also enable customers to export their surplus power to the provincial grid, helping further reduce the need for new construction.
ENMAX regularly promotes energy conservation techniques with customers through both advertising campaigns and by providing helpful information on our corporate website.