Participate in Demand Response
On a really hot day when everyone turns on the AC, electricity demand goes way up! Then utilities turn on expensive backup power plants, pushing up energy prices for everyone. These power plants are also often the ones that create the most climate and air pollution! “Demand response” is when a lot of people volunteer to pitch in and turn their AC up by one or two degrees - to help avoid a price spike or even a blackout. It’s easy - sign up to participate and get alerts when it is time to lower your energy use. It can even be automated so your utility can adjust your thermostat by a degree or two for you. Demand response can work with your AC, electric heaters and water heaters and in the future, even your electric car. And you can often get paid for participating. Demand response has even helped to avoid building new expensive power plants which saves everyone money. Imagine - everyone working together and taking small actions to create more reliable, cheaper energy for all!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
On a really hot day when everyone turns on the AC at the same time, electricity demand spikes! When this happens, utilities turn on backup power plants that are very expensive to run, pushing up energy prices for everyone. These power plants are often the ones that create the most climate and air pollution.
What if we all pitched in and turned our AC up by one or two degrees? We would hardly be able to notice the difference, but together we could lower demand enough to avoid turning on that extra power plant.
In a demand response program, you sign up and agree to lower your AC or other energy use by just a bit when demand spikes. It is simple and easy to do. The choice can even be automated by your utility, which can adjust your thermostat or water heater by just a degree or two. You won't even notice, and you often get paid for participating.
Demand response has been used to reduce expensive energy spikes by many utilities. In fact, it has even been used to avoid building expensive new power plants, saving lots of money for all customers. It also reduces air and climate pollution. Demand response just makes sense.
Demand response:
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Is easy to join and participate
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Requires changes so small you likely won’t even notice
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Keeps electricity prices lower
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Can make it possible to avoid turning of extra high priced power plants
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Pays you to participate
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Reduces climate and air pollution
1Step 1. Find a program & sign up!
Demand response is simple—sign up, then turn down your energy a small amount during an energy use spike in your area. Demand response “events” can be once a week or a few times in the summer or winter, depending on the program. The amount you need to reduce your use is very small. For example, generally one or two degrees on your thermostat for an hour or two. Most people don’t even notice a difference!
Types of demand response programs:
- Utility vs. Independent: Demand response programs can be run by utilities or independent program providers.
- Automated vs. manual: In an automated program, you can link your thermostat, water heater or other home energy use to the demand response provider, allowing them to automatically reduce your energy use during the peak demand period. With a manual program, you receive a text or email notification when demand spikes and turn your energy use down manually.
- Paid vs. unpaid: Most programs will pay you for participating. Once you sign up for the program, your provider tracks your participation during peak events or automatically adjusts your energy use. Then they compensate you based on how much energy you reduced and the value of the “avoided energy”.
Find a program: Check with your utility or in the resources section below for program options.
Next, sign up and get started! Start saving energy, money and helping to lower climate and air pollution!