Legislative Tracking

Save Energy & Money with, "Demand Response"

While local distribution systems are generally well-suited to meet local load requirements, the regional electric grid is, at times, under severe capacity constraints. In fact, New England’s electrical grid must be able to deliver some 28,000 megawatts of electric energy during peak periods. The average electric use, however, is about 18,000 megawatts for the region, meaning there’s more than a 10,000 megawatt difference between our peak and normal period -- and that’s a challenge. For businesses such as yours, it could also present an opportunity.

ISO New England, the region’s independent and non-profit system operator, is offering financial incentives to businesses such as yours to curtail your electric consumption during such peak periods. Through this program, you can receive a stream of monthly payments with no out-of-pocket costs if you agree to curtail during periods of peak demand. Curtailment can be attained thru the use of a back up generator, or thru proactive steps such as reducing lighting and cooling load. Such events historically last less than six hours per event, can only occur between 6AM and 7PM weekdays, and usually occur in the summer. There have been relatively few events or audits declared since the beginning of 2003. There will be at least one event per 12 month period should no actual emergency condition be declared.

Thousands of businesses throughout the region are now participating in this program. In so doing, they have identified equipment such as air conditioning and ventilating systems, lighting, motors and specific equipment loads for curtailment during an emergency. If your facility could utilize existing back up generation or curtail 100 kilowatts or more in less than a half-hour’s notice, you would receive thousands of dollars in payments, without any out-of-pocket costs.

If you are interested in learning more, please contact the CLA office at 860-635-5600. Our program partners will follow up and explain how we can make this program work for you.