Your Electric Company Pays You

That is not a misprint. It's Demand Response.

Many large-volume electric users could be receiving a nice check from their utility every month. But like so many conservation-based opportunities, they don't even know that this easy path to savings is available to them.

The setup is simple: you agree that, if the Utility requests it, you will reduce your electric demand, either by temporarily cutting down on use or by feeding electricity to the grid from an onsite source, like a backup generator. You are essentially acting as an on-call "release valve" for electric use in your area for situations where demand hits a level that the utility cannot handle. In return, you get a check from the utility every month.

How often does the call come? For most participants, never. Demand Response agreements are equivalent to an insurance policy for your Utility, and like insurance policies, they are almost never used. Utilities expend considerable resources predicting demand, and demand surges that spike beyond their anticipated peaks are rare.

What if the call comes? In most cases, there is a full day's notice. You may have to turn off lights for a few hours, or power down air conditioning. You might have to turn on your backup generation systems. A thorough facility audit by Cost Containment Intl. usually turns up a substantial amount of energy use that can be shut down temporariliy without affecting productivity.

Interested? Go to our Contact Page and ask for more information about Demand Response. We'll find out if it's offered in your area and if you qualify.