In the context of power systems, what does 'Customer Demand Management' aim to achieve?

Customer Demand Management is aimed at reducing strain on the supply of electrical power by actively managing the demand from consumers. This involves strategies and practices that help to smooth out consumption patterns, especially during peak usage times when the demand is highest. By effectively managing demand, utilities can avoid the need to ramp up generation quickly or invest in additional capacity, which can be costly.

Implementing demand management can involve various measures such as energy efficiency programs, demand response initiatives, and time-of-use pricing, all of which encourage customers to use power more efficiently and at times when the system can handle more load without strain. This leads to a more stable and reliable power supply while also benefiting the overall grid efficiency and reducing environmental impacts associated with excess production.