Naju-si, Bitgaram-dong Apartment Complex 'Energy Saving Project' Promotion

Published 25 Jul.2023 15:52(KST)

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 25th that starting next month, it will promote a 'Demand Response (DR)' energy-saving project targeting 22 apartment complexes in Bitgaram-dong this year, in collaboration with Korea Electric Power Corporation, Herit Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics, and LG Electronics.

This project operates by pre-agreeing on the amount of electricity that can be reduced during peak household power usage hours, and if the actual usage is lowered, participants receive cash points.

Participants must reduce their electricity consumption by more than 10% from the average usage of 8 days, excluding the single day with the highest and the single day with the lowest power usage out of 10 weekdays.

Naju DR Energy Saving Reward Service Guide. [Photo by Naju City]

The energy-saving missions are delivered 1 to 2 times a week during the hours when the previous week’s electricity usage was highest, through the app ‘Etchel’ developed by Herit.

If a participant successfully completes the reduction mission at least once a week, they receive cash points worth 1,000 KRW. Once 5,000 KRW or more is accumulated, the points can be used as KakaoTalk gift points.

Apartment management offices wishing to participate in the DR project must fill out the application form posted on the city hall website by the 6th of next month and submit it in person or by mail to the Energy New Industry Division of the city hall.

However, smart meters (HG-2000e) capable of remotely measuring electricity usage must be installed in the apartment complexes.

Households subscribed to the DR service can check their electricity, water, and gas usage in real time through the app (Etchel). Monthly, daily, and hourly usage inquiries and comparisons are also available.

Assuming 50% participation among approximately 30,000 households in Bitgaram-dong, reducing about 0.1 kW per hour would secure a reserve power capacity of 1,500 kW.

Annually, this equates to saving 90,000 kWh of electricity.

Considering the average household electricity usage of 215 kWh in Naju City as of the second half of 2022, this amount of saved electricity could power about 420 households for one month.

The city oversees the selection of apartment complexes participating in the DR project, provides mission success rewards, and manages overall service operations.

KEPCO will provide sequential services including real-time energy information collection from apartment complexes, ‘electricity usage inquiry,’ ‘single-person household welfare checks,’ and ‘seasonal and time-based differential tariffs.’

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics plan to develop smart home appliances with automatic power-saving functions to reduce energy consumption. Herit will handle participant recruitment, reward payments, and system maintenance.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae stated, “Through the DR service, we hope to establish a carbon-neutral and energy efficiency system that citizens can feel, and for public institutions and apartment complexes in the innovation city to become certified energy-efficient buildings.”

He added, “We ask for residents’ active interest and participation in the DR project, which saves energy costs, protects the environment, and provides rewards.”