DERMS, Grid Flexibility: The Problem, The Solutions, and Everything in Between!

NCRES - DERMS, Grid Flexibility: The Problem, The Solutions, and Everything in Between!

Pursuing a zero-carbon footprint means the proliferation of intermittent resources like solar and wind. For the electric grid to be operated efficiently, then a new type of resource needs to be added to the mix: “Grid Flexibility.” This new resource combines and orchestrates peak management, load shifting, time-varying rate design, and end-user engagement. Learn how Fort Collins Utilities is addressing the challenges of “duck-curve” management, solar off-ramp, and underutilized overnight wind by implementing Grid Flexibility programs with a variety of equipment, such as thermostats, switches, grid-interactive water heaters, and EVs.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:

Pablo Bauleo earned his Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Physics from Buenos Aires University with a specialization in nuclear physics and astrophysics, respectively. He also holds multiple academic and professional certifications. Among them, he earned a certificate in “Renewable Energy Sources and Smart Grid” and an international certification in Project Management from the Project Management Institute. From 1996 to 2001, Pablo was a Staff Scientist at the Argentinean Atomic Energy Commission.

From 2001 to 2008, he was a Research Scientist at CSU-Ft Collins. He had been a guest researcher at various institutions in Italy, Slovenia and Sweden. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including an article that made the cover of Science and an invited review article in Nature.

Pablo joined the Energy Services Team at Fort Collins Utilities in 2009. Since joining, he has applied his project management and analytical skills to streamline processes and developed metrics for the Demand Response program. He supported the deployment of an AMI and MDMS solution and led the deployment of a DERMS. Currently, he is the senior member of the Grid Flexibility Team at Fort Collins Utilities and a member of the DER and ADMS teams. His work was nationally recognized by being awarded the 2017 Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative CLEAR award for “…[being] a role model in the creation of the Peak Partners program and strengthening sustainability”.

The program was hosted by Peter Eberle, CRES Chair and NCRES Program Manager.

A question and answer session followed the presentation.

TIMELINE:

0:00 Welcome and announcements - Peter Eberle
4:02 Presentation - Pablo Bauleo
53:23 Q&A

This program was organized by the Northern Colorado chapter of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society and was recorded at their March 25, 2025, meeting. Contact us at [email protected] or visit us online at https://www.cres-energy.org/.

CREDITS:

Video production by Brian Beinlich, https://brianbeinlich.com.
Intro/outro image courtesy of NREL.
Intro/outro music: “Fast and Run” by Nico Staf via the YouTube Audio library.

ABOUT CRES:

For more than 25 years, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) and its local chapters have provided education, policy advocacy, and community engagement to accelerate Colorado toward a 100% renewable energy future. CRES is a statewide, non-partisan, non-profit, 501(c)3 membership organization that drives environmental, social, and economic benefits for our communities by promoting all forms of renewable energy, energy efficiency, storage, high-performance buildings, and other low- or zero-carbon solutions.

CRES features several local monthly speaker series throughout the state, provides speakers, experts, and workshops, and weighs in on state energy policy.

Learn more about CRES, membership, and how you can sign up to become a speaker or volunteer by visiting our website at https://cres-energy.org.