With two new types of demand response about to be introduced, PJM members last week took steps to clarify rules on substitutions and maintenance outages for the products.

PJM overcame the loss of nearly 40,000 MW of generation yesterday, keeping the lights on in the second day of an arctic blast that set a new winter demand record.

PJM operators dispatched demand response this morning after cutting voltages and calling on spinning reserves last night as frigid temperatures stressed generators and created record loads across the RTO.

The MD PSC worked with PJM to ensure new rules on demand response would not ruin the state’s “mass market” DR: EmPOWER Maryland, part of an initiative to reduce energy consumption by 15% below 2007 levels.

It took three tries Dec. 9 before the Members Committee reached consensus on Tariff changes that will allow PJM operators more flexibility in dispatching demand response.

Members agreed to develop rules for demand response providers requesting maintenance outages.

The volume and magnitude of changes PJM is attempting to impose on demand response raise the question of whether the high-flying sector is still a growth business or one in retreat.

Members approved a proposal giving PJM more flexibility in the way it dispatches demand response, clearing the way for a FERC filing.

PJM asked FERC to approve changes to the capacity auction - and the way that demand response clears within it - after those changes were rejected by stakeholders.

PJM generators told FERC that it should go beyond PJM’s qualification rules for demand response providers — with some proposing that planned DR resources be banned from the capacity market.