PG&E & Uplight Reach 100,000-Participant Milestone in Smart Thermostat Demand Response Program
- SmartAC™ Smart Thermostat program surpasses 100,000 enrollments, becoming one of the largest residential customer demand response programs in the country
- Device enrollments tripled from last year, with load shift per device increasing by 60% on average
- Program achieved an estimated 40 MW of load shift, equivalent to half the capacity of a typical 80 MW peaker plant
- None.
Program Helps Balance the Grid in Peak Demand Periods, Delivering Enough Energy Savings to Power 30,000 Homes
As
The 100,000 enrollment milestone demonstrates the important role that energy customers can play in shifting energy load to help balance the grid. Device enrollments in the Uplight-run SmartAC™ Smart Thermostat program have tripled from this time last year, and load shift per device has also increased by
"The scale of this program has become an important resource in managing demand and improving grid reliability for PG&E customers," said Jake Zigelman, PG&E's Senior Director of Load Management Solutions. "It's a win-win for our customers and the grid, providing real incentives to participate while helping stabilize the grid during times of high demand."
"Grid resiliency is dependent upon strategic partnerships like the one between Uplight and PG&E, enabling consumers to play an active role in decreasing strain on the grid and rewarding them for their efforts," said Luis D'Acosta, Uplight CEO. "We are proud to contribute to this major milestone and the growing number of enrollments."
How SmartAC Smart Thermostat Program Works
SmartAC Smart Thermostat is a voluntary program for customers who can be flexible with their air conditioning (AC) load during periods of high demand when the grid may become stressed. When extreme heat strikes and PG&E anticipates increased energy demand, the Smart Thermostat program automatically makes small changes to enrolled participants' energy use, shifting AC usage outside of the hours of high energy demand, while still maintaining comfortable home temperatures. During these demand response events, enrolled customers always maintain control of their comfort and may opt out of any event simply by changing the setpoint on their thermostat.
Participants receive an incentive when they enroll with an existing smart thermostat, and significant discounts are also available for those who purchase a new, pre-enrolled thermostat through PG&E's SmartAC marketplace, powered by Uplight. Discounts are applied at checkout through Uplight's demand response pre-enrollment feature, making the process simple and seamless. Participants still enrolled at the end of the program's season are eligible to receive an additional reward.
Customers can still purchase a new smart thermostat, enroll in the SmartAC Smart Thermostat program, and participate in an event before
Visit PG&E's SmartAC™ Thermostats page to learn more about the program. To learn more about Uplight's solutions connecting utilities and their customers, visit uplight.com.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
About Uplight
Uplight is the technology partner for energy providers and the clean energy ecosystem. Uplight's software solutions connect energy customers to the decarbonization goals of power providers while helping customers save energy and lower costs, creating a more sustainable future for all. Uplight is a certified B Corporation. To learn more, visit us at www.uplight.com, find us on Twitter @Uplight or on LinkedIn at Linkedin.com/company/uplightenergy.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pge--uplight-reach-100-000-participant-milestone-in-smart-thermostat-demand-response-program-301921126.html
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company