This section determines conformance of a communications client to the AS 4755-type demand response signals defined in Annex C of CSIP-AUS, and as such is only applicable to clients that wish to claim conformance to that section of the guide. These may be DREDs, controllable appliances with integral comms clients, or non-DRED gateways managing downstream DREDs or DR-enabled appliances.
Figure 5 describes the possible architectures by which a utility server (termed a “remote agent” in the AS 4755 suite of standards) can communicate with an appliance capable of demand response via the CSIP- AUS architecture. The communications are to be supported by a suitable communications client, which may be:
1) integral to the appliance without a gateway;
2) integral to the appliance but supported by a gateway; or
3) located on a DRED that communicates OIs to the appliance via relays as defined in AS/NZS 4755.1.
Figure 5 – Demand response architectures
The responses of demand response communications clients to OIs are as per the relevant standard:
a) for DREDs, a relay response as defined in AS/NZS 4755.1 clause 3.3.2;
b) for appliances with integral communications clients, a change in energy generated or consumed as per the relevant appendix of AS 4755.2.
For the purposes of these test procedures, the term “utility server” is intended to be equivalent to a “remote agent” as defined in the AS 4755 suite of standards.
The tests detailed in this section are intended to ensure that a communications client correctly interpret and acts upon the signals it receives from a utility server via CSIP-AUS. It is not intended to validate the physical response of a demand response system, however in some tests a physical response is used as a
proxy for validating the correct interpretation of an operating signal. Full descriptions of expected physical responses can be found in the relevant standard as described in Table 43:
Table 43 – Standards specifying physical response of demand response systems
Device / appliance type | DRED-control | Integral to appliance |
DRED | AS/NZS 4755.1 | N/A |
Air conditioner | AS/NZS 4755.3.1 | DR-AS 4755.2 appendix A |
Pool pump controller | AS/NZS 4755.3.2 | DR-AS 4755.2 appendix B |
Electric water heater | AS/NZS 4755.3.3 | DR-AS 4755.2 appendix C |
Electrical energy storage system | AS/NZS 4755.3.5 | DR-AS 4755.2 appendix D |
Note: AS 4755.2 is currently in draft, and as such references to specific sections of this standard may change at time of publication.