NB Power partnered with Siemens, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the National Research Council (NRC) on a Grid Modernization Research and Demonstration Pilot Project to study how we can conserve energy in New Brunswick by means of voltage reduction. The one-year data collection phase of the project ended on November 30, 2020.

Approximately 5,000 NB Power homes and businesses in specific areas of the province were part of this research and demonstration pilot project. This project will allow us to determine and measure the potential to reduce voltage to obtain energy savings, peak reduction in the future and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, all which will help make New Brunswick greener.

Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) is a proven technology used by utilities to better manage distribution system voltages in order to improve grid efficiency, all without compromising power quality. Following one year of using CVR on 10 NB Power feeders through this pilot, we achieved energy savings of 1.4 GWh and eliminated 385 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This was accomplished using an average voltage reduction of 5%.

Check out the final report for more information about project results.