Smart Grid Technology
The electric Smart Grid will enable significant improvements in electric power reliability and quality through reduction of peak power demand, while providing consumers the knowledge and ability to manage their energy consumption and utility costs.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), since 1982 the growth in peak electricity demand has exceeded power transmission growth. This has caused more frequent blackouts and service interruptions, as well as an increase in the costly reserve capacity the power grid requires to meet higher peak demands. The increased demand for electrical power across the nation has also led to higher peak utility costs.
Smart appliances are one way to help mitigate this problem. By using advanced digital communication technologies, smart appliances will be able to communicate with local power company or home energy management systems, and react accordingly to save energy and money. For example, during peak demand periods the water heater may pause or delay its power consumption and thus reduce the load on the smart utility grid. Additionally, smart appliances will also communicate with consumers to let them know how much energy they are consuming. This will eventually allow consumers to control their appliances, manage energy usage, and to ultimately save money.
Smart Grid Control
(Where Available)
Where available, Grid Communication Adaptors may be supplied by the local power company or purchased from leading retailers. Please contact your local power com- pany for more information.
To activate Smart Grid Control, remove the cover over the grid connection pins and plug in the grid communica- tion adaptor. See Figure 10C. NOTE: use only Whirlpool
-approved grid communication adaptors. This will enable the power company to communicate the peak demand periods for the water heater’s power usage.
After this connection has been made, simply press the “Grid Enabled” button to enable and/
or disable a request for grid control. See Figure 10D. Enabling this feature will allow acceptance
of the power company communication of grid manage- ment requests. Disabling this feature will allow the water heater to ignore grid management requests.
NOTE: Smart Grid will be disabled when the Energy Smart® Module (ESM) is disconnected from the junction box wiring harness (see page 12).
WARNING
Electric Shock Hazard Disconnect power before servicing.
Replace all parts and panels before operating.
Failure to do so can result in death or electric shock.
Figure 10C |
Smart Grid Connection |
Grid Communication Adaptor |
(May Be Supplied By Power Company) |
(May Differ in Appearance) |
Junction Box | Grid Connection | |
Pins | ||
|
Figure 10D
Smart Grid Control
Pressing this button will enable and/or disable a request for
Smart Grid Control
ENERGY | STANDARD VACATION | GRID |
SMART |
| ENABLED |
F
GRID LOCK
°F/°C
13
