Demand Response is reducing or shifting facility electricity use in response to either high wholesale electricity prices or reliability problems on the electricity grid. It has the added benefit of assisting in managing load shape at a facility, which can help in negotiating a lower price with a competitive electricity supplier. While energy efficiency is reducing electricity use for many hours per day for most of the year, Demand Response is reducing or shifting electricity usage for only a handful of hours per day a few days per year. The investor owned utilities in Massachusetts administer the ISO program, and also offer services to help their customers monitor and manage their electric usage. If you buy electricity from a municipal provider, contact them to determine the load management and Demand Response services they provide.
