Smart Panels & Residential Load Management: Empowering Homeowners and Utilities to Accelerate Residential Electrification
Research

Smart Panels & Residential Load Management: Empowering Homeowners and Utilities to Accelerate Residential Electrification

  • Smart panels and load management devices can manage real-time home loads to enable greater electrification within existing service capacity.
  • Utilities can utilize these technologies as non-wires alternatives to defer costly service and distribution upgrades.
  • Integrating smart panels into demand response, managed charging, and VPP programs unlocks greater control at the grid edge.
  • Scaling smart panels requires aligned incentives, consistent program design, and broad customer and contractor education.

SEPA, in collaboration with Schneider Electric and SPAN, explored how smart panels are reshaping how customers and utilities manage increasing electrification demand. As EVs, heat pumps, and other electric appliances push existing service capacities to the limit, smart panels and load management devices can provide real-time load control to keep homes within their capacity limits. This report examines how smart panels can help avoid service upgrades, accelerate electrification, and support participation in utility programs.

Authors:

Brittany Blair, Manager – Research & Industry Strategy, SEPA
Garrett Fitzgerald, Senior Director – Electrification, SEPA
Drake Moran, Senior Analyst – Research & Industry Strategy, SEPA

With Contributions from Project Partners:

Smart Panels & Residential Load Management