Karen Herter
Owner of Herter Energy Research Solutions energy research firm specializing in customer-side SmartGrid issues, demand response, dynamic pricing, and customer feedback in the residential and small commercial sectors. General responsibilities include providing energy consulting services, designing and implementing research projects, and presenting at industry workshops and conferences. Specific projects include:
- Residential Information and Controls Pilot (2009-2011). A project in progress to provide customer information, controls and pricing options to a sample of residential customers to determine the effect of feedback and system events on energy use and peak load.
- U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star proposed thermostat specifications (2009).
- Energy Feedback Research through Simulation Gaming (2009). A project designed to determine the effects of real-time and appliance-specific information on residential customers’ ability to manage simulated energy use in an experimental computer game.
Associate Director, Heschong Mahone Group, Inc., Fair Oaks, CA, 2006 – 2009
Designed and managed program implementation, model development, and evaluation. General responsibilities included writing proposals, acquiring funding, and managing projects involving energy technologies, programs, and evaluation. A few of the specific projects managed include:
- Small Business Summer Solutions Research Pilot (2007-2009). Characterized the load potential and behavioral issues related to an integrated energy (kWh) and peak (kW) reduction program in the small commercial sector.
- California Demand Response Potential study (2006-2009). Developed a model to predict peak load reduction by California forecast climate zone, utility program, building type and end-use.
- Governor’s Benchmarking Initiative (2006-2009). Facilitated collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over 20 California energy utilities, and over 30 State departments to fulfill the requirements of Executive Order S-20-04.
Principle Research Associate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 1998 – 2006
(2000-2006). Worked with Commissioners and staff at the California Energy Commission in Sacramento. General responsibilities: provided advice on technical and policy issues related to electric peak reduction and dynamic pricing; communicated with state agencies, utilities, and other parties; interacted with research, industry, and government at meetings, conferences, seminars, and trade shows; organized, analyzed and summarized large databases, authored peer-reviewed papers and presentations; and developed new research concepts and related proposals. Specific efforts: evaluated and created dynamic pricing proposals; participated in the California Public Utilities Commission’s Demand Response Rulemaking and Statewide Pricing Pilot with the Energy Commission and investor-owned utilities; and contributed to the development of a statistical methodology for determining hourly residential baselines for demand response evaluation. (1998-2000). Performed a major component of LBNL research projects. General responsibilities: investigated technologies and methods for improving energy efficiency in consumer electronics; evaluated the efficacy of existing energy-efficiency policies and the feasibility and effects of proposed energy efficiency policies; organized, analyzed and summarized large databases; and authored peer-reviewed papers and presentations. Specific projects: investigated national electricity consumption of consumer electronics for the U.S. Department of Energy; participated in the International Energy Agency Taskforce on Standby Power Use in Electrical Equipment; contributed to the development of technical specifications for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program.
Education
- University of California, Berkeley: Ph.D. in Energy and Resources, 2006
- San Jose State University: M.S. in Environmental Studies, 1998
- University of Rochester: B.A. in Mathematics; B.A. in Psychology, 1991
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