I&M, an American Electric Power (AEP) company, recently filed a special, joint contract with Google that is designed to support I&M’s capacity needs through clean generation and the use of a demand response structure. The collaborative effort between I&M and Google was filed with the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC) on July 30. It outlines a custom demand response structure that aligns with Google’s operational abilities, which apparently are becoming more elastic thanks to the very processes going on inside its data centers.

Through its participation, Google will leverage “new capabilities” that allow it to make machine learning (ML) more flexible, allowing the company to reduce or shift electricity demand to carry out non-urgent tasks during hours when the electric grid is under less stress. This is huge for I&M, which can accordingly decrease its peak load in times of high energy demand. As a large load customer, Google’s participation in the programme boosts Indiana Michigan Power’s ability to manage peaks, which helps lower overall energy costs for ratepayers.

“As we add new large loads to our system, it is critical that we partner with our customers to effectively manage the generation and transmission resources necessary to serve them. Google’s ability to leverage load flexibility will be a highly valuable tool to meet their future energy needs,” said Steve Baker, president and chief operating officer of I&M.

The programme is similar to those currently available to residential and commercial and industrial (C&I) customers. If approved by the IURC, the utility says this agreement will reduce I&M’s long-term generation requirements and financial commitments to benefit all of its customers.

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