Interruptible Load Management: Literature and Practice

Paper in proceeding, 2001

This paper address the importance of interruptible load management (ILM) program as an approach to peak load capacity shortage problem, with special emphasis on deregulated electricity markets. The paper attempts to classify major trends in research towards this direction. International experiences on ILM practiced by various electric utilities, electricity markets, independent system operators (ISOs) around the world (i.e., Alberta, England and Wales, California, Australia, New York, New Zealand, Sweden and Taiwan) are presented along with descriptions of the structures of specific markets. The working mechanisms of ILM as implemented by those utilities/markets and their effectiveness in aiding system operation in peak load periods and contingencies are discussed.