Demand Response

Best for: Large commercial and industrial customers.

Our energy grid is highly reliable, however there are times when it experiences significant stress, like that hot day when everyone is blasting the AC. The significant peak in usage generally has one of two undesirable results. Power companies could be forced to fire up older, less efficient generation plants, which is expensive. If they cannot/will not manage this in time, your building could experience a brown out. Customers and companies can prevent these costs by trading; if customers reduce their electric usage, power companies can avoid an enormous hit to their bottom line. In order to incentivize this bargain, power companies have created the Demand Response (DR) Program, in which they PAY YOU to reduce your consumption.

Duquesne Light WATT CHOICES

Best for: All building types and sizes.

WATT CHOICES helps customers conserve energy and reduce demand while lowering their electricity costs. It provides rebates and discounts on a wide range of energy-saving devices for commercial (and residential!) customers.

• Commercial Efficiency – includes custom rebates and new construction

• Small Commercial Direct Install – free lighting and refrigeration solutions

• Demand Response – get paid to reduce usage at times of peak load

Forward Capacity Payments

Best for: Commercial or industrial buildings, large multifamily residential.

You already know that energy efficiency upgrades save you money by lowering your utility bills. But did you know that you can also receive payment from our regional grid? If you’ve done (or are planning) a lighting, HVAC, or VFD project, received a rebate from Duquesne Light, or demonstrated energy use reduction for a LEED certified building, you might be able to increase your savings.

PJM Interconnection, our regional electrical grid, offers payment for permanent load reduction. If this seems like a strange proposition, consider that PJM forecasts and prepares for peak demand not this year, but four years in the future. They ensure electricity will be on-hand to meet those peak loads, and balancing that supply and demand is precise work. When PJM knows that your building will be operating more efficiently (aka, demanding less electricity), they can build that information into their models. So permanently avoided energy consumption becomes a commodity with real value, called forward capacity (Demand response programs are somewhat similar and applicable to temporarily avoided energy-use).

Accessing these funds can be tricky, but they are a real source of cash for commercial property owners and managers. Capacity payments are available for projects completed in the last four years, so a project you’ve already finished could generate funds to complete your next endeavor.

More good news? Green Building Alliance and CPower can help. Let us know if you’ve completed a project in the last four years, or when you’re ready for your next project, and we’ll walk you through the process. To see if your project is a good fit, contact the Pittsburgh 2030 District.

(Disclosure: CPower collects a percentage of the payment as their fee for service as a licensed curtailment service provider. As a referral partner, GBA receives a small portion of that fee).

Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh

Best for: Small businesses.

Small Business Energy Savings Program (PDF) – Low interest financing for energy efficiency improvements.