The ‘orb’ knows

FRESNO
May 15, 2006 11:46am

Like something you might associate with a cheesy 1950s TV science fiction show, “energy orbs” are being placed in businesses in Central California by the region’s largest electric utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co.

The “orbs” glow, pulsate and change color to indicate when conservation of electricity is needed, PG&E says.

Some 560 customers who use more than 200 kilowatts of electricity and participate in the "frontline" demand response programs now have the devices. These are customers such as manufacturing plants, food processors, colleges, office buildings, wineries, school districts, hospitals, research facilities and museums.

By participating in the program, the customers are the first to be called upon to reduce energy usage when the California Independent System Operator implements its emergency stages as power reserves begin to dip.

In return, the customers enjoy lower power rates – and get an orb.

The PG&E “Energy Orb” is placed in a lobby or facilities manager's office to help alert them prior to and during an energy saving event. They are equipped with an electronic chip that receives a wireless signal every 15 minutes. The signal activates the orb to change colors “to indicate a call to action,” as PG&E puts it.

If there is no imminence of an event, the orb will remain blue. As the power situation changes, so does the color of the orb.

While the California Energy Commission and the Cal-ISO say there will be ample power supplies in both northern and southern California to meet demand this summer, successive days of hot weather or the loss of a major power plant or transmission line may lead the Cal-ISO to implement its electrical emergency process which calls for immediate conservation.