PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Significant revenue is now available through these programs to larger electricity users that can reduce how much electric they use for the few short hours a year that the electric grid is unstable due to high demands.  ECS is the largest authorized administrator of demand response programs in the United States, with nearly 1,500 facilities participating in its programs.  ECS’ has paid out more than $35 million to our participating manufacturers, hotels, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, high-rise properties and others over the past 5 years.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• You are paid a minimum guaranteed amount per kilowatt monthly based upon the amount of the committed curtailable load or reduced electric (capacity payment).  This reduction results from load shedding and/or the operation of on-site generation (depending on the final rules on generator participation).  This capacity payment is for your standby commitment to reduce electric when called, subject to your actual performance if and when a call for reduction is made.

• You also qualify for additional payments based on the amount you reduce and the duration of that reduction (energy payment). You are paid just as if you are a power plant selling electricity to your utility.

• There is no cost to participate! You will never pay a dime for metering, enrolling, or anything else.

• You receive a day-ahead notice that you will be needed on the following day to reduce electricity during a specified time frame. This advance notice allows you the opportunity to sufficiently prepare for the reduction.

• No financial penalties for non-performance. If we call on you to reduce power and you don't, ECS does not impose financial penalties upon you. .  To keep it simple, any failures are debited against credits you would receive from successful performance hours, but never will you be penalized out-of-pocket.

• If you fail to perform to a 100% level, but do perform to some degree, you are still credited for how much electric you reduce.  In other words, it is not all or nothing.        

• Days when a call for electric reduction would be made are those in which the electric grid is at its most constrained point and electricity demands at their peak.  During these times, your utility will frequently have to reduce voltages along their transmission system to maintain stability of the grid and avoid a widespread blackout.  Voltage fluctuations contribute to equipment damage, in particular HVAC and sensitive production equipment.  By participating in ECS’ program, you will be alerted to the existence of these voltage reduction circumstances and will be able to prevent damage to your equipment.   

• There is a limit to the number of hours you can be called - no more than 24 hours per month.  You have the option to select how long you would be willing to reduce power during any single day as follows:  1 to 4 hours; 2 to 6 hours; 4 to 8 hours.  If you have the ability to reduce electric for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours, it would benefit you to select the 4 to 8 hour timeframe as you will likely be called on less days during a particular month in order to stay under the 24 hour cap. Again, this is a MAXIMUM # of hours – you may be called only 1 hour, 4 hours, 8 hours, maybe even no hours (likely in the shoulder months). 

• If no event is called during any particular month, you still receive your capacity payment without any action on your part.  Yes, you get something for nothing when this happens. 

• By participating, you will receive a complete interval metering system at your facility free of charge.  This easily installed metering provides data you can utilize to more effectively manage your energy usage.  There is no interruption to your facility during installation of the meter.

• Upon your request, ECS will perform a demand response audit at your facility free of charge.  This will help you identify curtailment opportunities at your facility and calculate the kW you can expect to reduce by shutting down or reducing use of particular equipment or processes.