Demand Response

Get Paid to Reduce Your Load

Demand Response Is Money In The Bank

Demand response programs pay customers to reduce or shift their load during periods of high demand. These programs originate through grid operators who use them as a way to control consumption during periods of peak demand. The program is an alternative to compulsory brownouts or blackouts when it’s necessary for operators to quickly balance demand with available supply.

Eligibility

Businesses may voluntarily enter into an agreement to reduce a percent of their load during called events and are compensated for successful performance. While the financial return is typically substantial, there is a penalty for failure to meet agreed reduction targets.

Participating is one of the best deals in business today. For your minimal time investment, the financial return is considerable. If you are looking for a simple way to increase revenue, this is it.

How It Works

In general, you agree to reduce a set amount of electric consumption during periods of high demand. Under such conditions, the grid operator will call an event for a 2-4 hour window. Then, you’ll make the changes necessary to decrease consumption or shift your load. If you successfully meet your target, you’ll receive an incentive payment.

We can show you how this program has earned businesses thousands of dollars each year.

Demand Response How-Tos

Simple Steps to Demand Response Success

In recent history, PJM customers have experienced few demand response events. In fact, they’ve averaged one event every four years. That’s not to say they can’t happen, but when they do, they usually only last three hours. Since events occur during times of highest demand, they usually begin around 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST.

You’ll receive advance notice and we can help you work through the easiest ways to reduce or shift your load with minimal impact to operations. Some examples include:

Delay Energy-Intensive Processes

Planning is key to successful management of demand response strategies.

Advance notice of called demand response events allows businesses to initiate strategies that can be as simple as rescheduling energy-intensive processes to later shifts or coordinating planned maintenance shutdowns to occur simultaneously.

Shift Load to Generator

Shifting load from the grid to an approved generator is a fast way to shed load for demand response requirements. If you have a generator available for emergency backup power, why not use it to make money for your business?

Not sure if your generator qualifies? Give us a call, we can explain how it works.

Reduce HVAC Use

One method for meeting your requirement may include adjusting your thermostat. Since demand response events almost always occur during the warmest months of the year and HVAC is a major source of commercial demand, temporary temperature modifications can give businesses an easy way to shed load quickly. Additionally, called events are limited in duration. As such, temporary HVAC changes such as precooling don’t present a problem for indoor climate comfort.

Lighting

Since lighting represents as much as 33% of a facility’s total electricity demand, turning off the lights during called events can make a substantial difference. While central lighting controls can make this easier to implement, a coordinated effort can also accomplish the same thing.

We can help you develop a DR plan, conduct a test, and review the results to assure program success.