Score-based intelligent home energy management (HEM) algorithm for demand response applications and impact of HEM operation on customer comfort

A home energy management (HEM) system plays an important role for residential demand response (DR) applications in the smart grid environment. Its role includes the ability to manage end-use electrical energy (kWh) and demand (kW) based on utility signals, load priorities and customer preference. This study presents a score-based intelligent HEM algorithm for residential DR applications and the impact of the HEM system operation on customer comfort in various HEM decision-making intervals (i.e. 1, 5, 10 and 15 min) at various DR requirements. The proposed algorithm manages selected household loads according to customers' preset comfort level settings and keeps the total household power consumption below a certain limit. Results indicate that the more stringent DR requirements lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations during a DR event. In addition, the longer HEM decision-making intervals may lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations.