Programs that Reward You for Helping Us Reduce Demand
A storm, heat wave, or even the occasional maintenance on a power plant are a few of the things that increase congestion on the power grid and may affect California's supply and demand for electricity. Even a lack of natural gas supplies could lead to congestion on the grid.
During these times, we ask our customer to help us save as much energy as possible. And for customers who have previously enrolled in one of our demand response program, helping us save energy can earn you credits on your bill.
Participation is voluntary, but we make it worth our customers’ efforts. By helping us reduce demand, you’re also helping us save energy so we don’t have to build more power plants.
| Program name | Season | Summary | Risk | Notification Lead Time | # of events that can be called |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Interruptible Program (BIP) | Year-round | Earn credits by agreeing to reduce your use by a predefined amount | Penalized for excess energy use | 20 minutes before event starts | Year: 120 hours max Month: 10 events max Day: 4 hours |
| Capacity Bidding Program (CBP) Day Ahead |
May-October | Incentives provided if you reduce energy use when requested the day ahead | Penalized for excess energy use | Afternoon before the event | Year: No annual max Month: 44 hours Week: No Limit Day: 1 event |
| Capacity Bidding Program (CBP) Day Of | May-October | Even greater incentives if you respond to a request issued the same day | Penalized for excess energy use | Morning of event | Year: No annual max Month: 44 hours Week: No Limit Day: 1 event |
| Critical Peak Pricing (CPP-D) | Year-round | A TOU rate with increased costs during critical event periods. | Excess energy billed at significantly higher prices | Afternoon before the event | Year: 18 max events Month: No Limit Week: No Limit Day: 7 hours (11 am-6 pm) |
| Summer Saver | May-October | Save money with HVAC presets set by SDG&E | Compliance is automatic | Notification through the cycling of the A/C unit. | Year: 120 hours or 15 events Month: 40 hours Week: 3 days, max Day: No less than 2 hours but no more than 4 consecutive hours. |
Third Party Demand Response Providers
OhmConnect
Save energy. Get paid. Join OhmConnect’s free service to earn weekly payments for saving energy. Receive text or email notifications when it’s time to save, and connect smart devices to fully automate your OhmConnect experience.
Provider Type: Commercial/Residential
Engie Storage
Engie Storage (formerly Green Charge) operates intelligent battery energy storage systems to provide electricity bill reduction and demand response services for commercial, industrial, and public sector customers.
Provider Type: Commercial
AutoGrid
As a non-residential or residential customer, easily participate in demand response using your building system, smart thermostats, smart plugs, lighting, EVs, batteries, or any of your devices. Save energy and receive payments throughout the year with AutoGrid patented technology.
Provider Type: Commercial/Residential
Stem
Stem’s unique artificial intelligence for energy storage, Athena™, delivers the benefits of DR without disruption by automatically responding to events and shifting energy use away from the most expensive times. As a member of Stem’s network—the world’s largest—achieve real-time energy optimization with guaranteed cost savings, rewards for grid support, and no capital outlay.
Provider Type: Commercial
NRG Curtailment Solutions
The ultimate win-win energy solution, demand response programs benefit all energy users. NRG Curtailment Solutions will work your organization to recommend specific reduction strategies as well as provide real-time training and support so your facilities can maximize each program’s market benefits.
Provider Type: Commercial
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Demand Response FAQ
When a call for energy conservation is issued, it means that a Demand Response Event Day has been activated. Depending on how much energy conservation is needed to stabilize the grid any, or all, of the programs may each call their own program Event day (please refer to the chart above to better understand the requirements for each program).
Flex Alerts are a statewide call for energy conservation and are issued by the California Independent System Operator (ISO). The ISO is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation that manages the flow of electricity across the high-voltage, long-distance power lines that make up 80 percent of California’s and a small part of Nevada’s power grid. Flex Alerts can be triggered by heat waves, when power use outstrips electricity supply, unplanned power plant outages, or during fires that cause transmission line overloads, losses or limitations. Flex Alerts are posted on the ISO website, social media, sent by email and text to consumers who sign up for notifications, and the media is notified.
A Demand Response Event Day is called by SDG&E and is a call for energy conservation by our customers who have volunteered to reduce or shift electricity use during peak periods in response to time-based rates. Customers can receive a financial incentive for meeting the “program specific” Event Day criteria. However, customers that don’t meet their “program specific” set criteria are penalized.
Make sure the right person at your business is signed up to receive notifications and alerts from SDG&E when event days occur. You can sign up for event notifications by logging into My Account and clicking on Alerts and Subscriptions. SDG&E’s home page also contains notifications indicating which Program Event Days have been activated.
Auto Demand Response is technology enabled equipment and controls that can help streamline energy management and allow businesses to participate in a Demand Response program automatically. If you’re looking for a program that specializes in Auto Demand Response check out our Technology Incentives Program.
Demand Response is a call for conservation by SDG&E and can provide financial incentives to those customers who volunteer) to reduce or shift electricity use during peak periods in response to time-based rates and can provide a financial incentive for doing so.