A fuzzy expert system for evaluation of demand-side management alternatives

It is believed that the onset of true competition in the electric power industry may result in the demise of demand-side management (DSM) as it is known today, which is primarily a means of optimizing a utility's load curve. IS DSM is to survive, utilities will need to evaluate the large number of possible options more efficiently and effectively than ever before. To reach this goal, the subjective portion of the evaluation process has been formulated into a fuzzy expert system, yielding faster, more efficient, and consistent results. This paper outlines the development of FEDSM, a Fuzzy Expert system designed to evaluate Demand-Side Management alternatives. FEDSM is a user-friendly, visual ba sie, and spreadsheet-based evaluation tool which allows the user to develop a flexible expert system. FEDSM is tested and evaluated on actual DSM data collected by a public utility in Nebraska, generating promising results.