Energy conservation with voltage reduction-fact or fantasy

Conservation voltage reduction (CVR) will reduce demand on an electric system. More controversial is the idea that CVR can reduce energy usage on a system. Although CVR has its proponents, it is difficult to implement over a wide area without the danger of exposing some customers to unacceptable under voltage conditions. Another issue is that CVR does not cause reduced energy usage for all loads, in fact some loads may increase energy usage when voltage is reduced. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has agreed to reimburse several of it's customers who are public utility districts or electric cooperatives for either the cost of installing CVR systems or the energy saved with a CVR system. This manuscript discusses systems installed by two electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest that are being used to implement CVR using new communication and control technologies to prevent under voltage conditions and assure actual reduced energy usage.