几年来，电力公司实施了各种各样的计划，以便在配电网或发电能力面临压力时减少负荷。虽然这些计划有一个共同的目标，即减少峰值电力需求，但在计划的细节和与客户沟通的方法上存在许多差异。不断增长的能源需求以及公众对能源和环境问题的日益关注，促使人们重新关注如何更好地管理建筑用电，并将建筑能源负荷与“智能”电网的其他功能相协调。本文介绍了最近的立法、标准制定工作和需求- 响应示范项目提供了突破性改变建筑和公用设施互动方式的可能性，可在全国范围内广泛应用。引文:ASHRAE Transactions，第115卷，pt。2009年1月1日，芝加哥

For several years electric utilities have implemented a wide variety of programs to curtail load in times of stress on the electricity distribution grid or on generating capacity. Although these programs have shared a common goal of reducing peak electricity demand, there have been many differences in the details of the programs and the methods for communicating with customers. Increasing energy demand and increasing public concern about energy and environmental issues have resulted in renewed interest in finding ways to better manage electricity consumption in buildings and to coordinate building energy loads with other features of a “smart” grid. This paper describes how recent legislation, standards development efforts, and a demand-response demonstration project offer the possibility of breakthrough changes in the way that buildings and utilities interact that could be applied broadly throughout the country.