New Delhi: Tata Power-DDL’s demand-response initiative has achieved around 1,900 MW of cumulative peak-load reduction over six years, with approximately 2.2 lakh consumers currently participating, the company’s CEO Dwijadas Basak said at a Central Electricity Authority (CEA) panel.
Basak outlined the programme’s evolution from an automated demand-response pilot launched in 2014 to a behavioural model centred on consumer participation in 2022. He was speaking in a session on “Demand Response and Consumer Participation in Energy Transition Through AI”.
Consumer participation beyond financial incentives
Basak said sustained engagement, awareness of environmental benefits and recognition of top performers had helped encourage participation. Consumers were increasingly motivated by opportunities to contribute to environmental sustainability and the national economy, rather than financial incentives alone, he said.
Role of AI and common standards
He identified consumer segmentation, flexible-load identification and analysis of consumption patterns as areas where artificial intelligence could support targeted interventions and network planning.
Basak also called for common platforms and specifications to help utilities adopt demand-response programmes more widely.
The panel formed part of the CEA’s 53rd Foundation Day programme at Manekshaw Centre. The event was attended by Union ministers Manohar Lal, Pralhad Joshi and Shripad Yesso Naik, and CEA Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad.
