Why it Matters
While many of THG’s customers are participating in the Peak Capacity Forecasting & Notification Program already, others may wonder – why does it matter?
Amazingly, 20-30% of your electric costs are based on the consumption of electricity in just four or five hours across an entire summer season. So, if you manage to reduce your consumption of electricity coincident with these few hours, you can significantly reduce your electric charges.
Across the US, electric supply charges from your supplier and the utility company are determined using regional system-wide peak hours to determine your summer capacity requirements. In Texas (ERCOT), the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest (PJM and MISO), New England (NE ISO) and New York (NY ISO), you can participate in THG’s program directly or with our partners to reduce your demand for power during the grid’s peak hours. This is a totally voluntary program – so there are no penalties if you can’t reduce your power use. But if you do reduce, the upside is substantial.
THG provides forecasting notices to customers and partners in various parts of the US. THG is now offering its Peak Capacity Forecasting & Notification Program across the nation. Every day throughout the summer period (June through September) THG monitors grid-wide electric loads, weather data, historical grid information, and other key factors that generate a likelihood status of that day being a peak grid day. Our solution provides a notification-based alert via text and email to advise in advance of the actual peak hours so you have a chance to implement Load Reduction Measures.
Customers participating in our Peak Capacity Forecasting & Notification Program should expect to receive anywhere from 12 to 20 alerts throughout the summer period based on our forecast analysis. At the end of the season, THG and our partners will review the results to let you know how much your summer capacity requirement was reduced and the associated savings that you will receive. Savings will commence in the next delivery period for the following year.
Load Reduction Measures include: increasing temperature set points on thermostats for AC and for chiller systems; turning off lights where possible; shifting production lines to non-peak periods; running a back up generator (with appropriate permitting); turning off charging systems (for forklifts or other devices); shutting down an elevator bank; discharging battery storage;
As always, keep safety and environmental compliance as your first priority. If you need help determining the Load Reduction Measures that you can successfully deploy, THG’s team of experts will work with you to develop and implement a load reduction plan. THG’s Automated DR equipment can also turn these manual processes into automated responses – eliminating the need for individuals in your company to take on this task – at your option.
How do I participate and am I ready for this summer program?
- Ensure THG is managing all participating locations in the portal.
- Register sites for the Peak Capacity Forecasting & Notification Program by contacting your Account Rep. While registration is preferred no later than May 15th to ensure notifications for the entire season, you may register a site at any time from June through September. If you register them later, then you may miss one or more peak hours, but will still have the opportunity to reduce load on the remaining summer peak hours [for example, in PJM’s 5 Coincident Peak (5CP)].
- Provide Email/text for an unlimited number of users.
- THG will conduct a pre-program notification test call in May to ensure everything is in place and ready to go by June 1.
- 3-year program – easy to participate – no penalties or downside
- If desired, schedule THG to develop an optional load reduction plan (deadline for requests to THG for this support is May 1st)
This program can be set up quickly and produce significant savings from just a small amount of effort. Contact your Account Rep or THG for details: ContactUs@thgenergy.com.