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ENBALA Power Networks™

Smart Grid Company ENBALA Power Networks™ is one of the first providers of Demand-Side Regulation Service in the PJM Market

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Toronto, Ontario, November 21, 2011 – ENBALA Power Networks™ is one of the first companies to take advantage of new rules that enable load participation in PJM Interconnection’s regulation market by connecting industrial loads to the Smart Grid. The loads will deliver demand-side load Regulation Service (Grid Balance™) to PJM, which is the largest integrated electricity market in the world, covering all or part of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

ENBALA can go live and fully participate in the PJM market because of two recent modifications. A PJM rule change now makes it possible to deliver smaller amounts of Grid Balance from an individual load (dropping the minimum amount from 500 kW to 100 kW), which encourages demand-side loads to participate in the grid. Also, ENBALA was recently approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to participate in US wholesale electricity markets.

“To be one of the first companies to offer Grid Balance, the most demanding of all ancillary services, in the PJM region is an achievement for ENBALA and a great start to connecting loads in real-time to support the management of the electric power system,” said Ron Dizy, President and CEO, ENBALA Power Networks. “Demand-side management has a large role to play in the future of the Smart Grid and Grid Balance is just the beginning.”

Grid Balance is the continuous, real-time balancing of the electricity grid using demand-side loads. Loads can now deliver on this challenging ancillary service, leading to a brighter future. Prior to delivering Grid Balance in real-time to PJM, ENBALA’s technology had to pass three certification tests before PJM would allow it to connect and enter the market.

“We’ve long seen the value of demand-side resources in our markets, so expanding the opportunities for demand response to participate in the regulation service market makes sense and offers new qualities such as fast response,“ said Andrew L. Ott, PJM senior vice president – Markets. “Above all, demand-side resources offer another means of cost-effectively enhancing overall grid reliability.”

American Water is the first company with loads connected to ENBALA’s Smart Grid network and responding in real-time to the needs of the grid. The company continues to expand its involvement by connecting a growing number of assets to the ENBALA Power Network.

“The transition from testing with ENBALA to going live has been seamless,” said American Water Manager of Innovation Development, Paul Gagliardo. “It is exciting to be connected to the Smart Grid and to help manage the real-time balancing of the electric power grid.”

ENBALA’s application for market-based rate authority was approved by FERC last month. Effective Nov. 1, ENBALA was authorized to participate in wholesale electricity markets as a Category 1 seller and has market-based rates authority for the sale of electric energy, capacity and ancillary services on a commercial basis. The FERC ruling permits ENBALA to participate in the following markets: PJM Interconnection, New York Independent System Operator, ISO New England, California Independent System Operator and Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator.

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