In the 2014 paper Teaching the Duck to Fly, Jim Lazar set out ten strategies for aligning loads and resources to make the load curve easier to serve. Starting with the so-called “duck curve” published by the California Independent System Operator, he demonstrated how aggressive deployment of low-cost strategies such as water heater controls, ice storage air conditioning, and targeted energy efficiency presses up on the belly and pushes down on the head of the “duck,” shifting it into a sleek posture ready for flight.

A flying duck never rests. In a webinar held on March 3, 2016, Mr. Lazar shared new insights on opportunities that have arisen and technologies that have evolved since the first edition. Drawing from Teaching the Duck to Fly – Second Edition, he discusses each of the strategies, how they can be deployed and managed, and how they each affect the load shape that remains—demonstrating that the amount of flexibility they can provide has increased. Together, these measures enable utilities to adapt to a supply portfolio containing a high level of variable renewable energy resources and still provide adequate, reliable, and economical service to consumers.

NOTE: The extended question and answer portion of the webinar can be viewed in this separate recording.