Voltus Readies Nearly 500 MWs of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) for Projected Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Power Shortfall This Summer

Rhea-AI Summary

Voltus, Inc. announced its readiness to address a projected 5,000 MW shortfall in MISO this summer. With a current portfolio of nearly 500 MW, the company highlighted the risks of controlled outages due to a decrease in thermal generation and increased intermittent energy sources.

Voltus is advocating for the removal of state-level bans on demand-side resources, which could enable an additional 1,000 MW from its existing customer relationships. Regulatory changes are being urged from FERC to enhance grid reliability and affordability.

Positive

• Voltus is prepared to address the projected 5,000 MW shortfall in MISO with its nearly 500 MW portfolio.
• Advocacy for lifting state demand-side resource bans could add an additional 1,000 MW to its capacity.

Negative

• State-level bans on demand-side resources in 9 of the 11 MISO states limit Voltus's ability to meet demand.
• Potential risks of controlled outages if demand-side resources remain unavailable.

Voltus prepares portfolio in anticipation of a projected 5,000 MW shortfall in MISO, while calling on state regulators and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to lift demand response bans

SAN FRANCISCO & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Voltus, Inc. (“Voltus”), the leading DER software platform, announces today that its nearly 500 MW MISO portfolio is prepared to help meet anticipated supply shortages this summer. MISO’s 2022/2023 Capacity Auction last month revealed critical gaps in accredited capacity due to the increase in intermittent generation and the ongoing retirement of thermal generation across the region. As a result, customers in seven MISO zones spanning eleven US states have an increased risk of controlled outages to maintain system reliability this summer.

"Voltus entered the MISO market in 2016 with the foresight that demand-side resources would be a necessary backstop as our electricity grid transitioned from traditional fossil fuel generation to intermittent renewable sources of energy,” explains Matthew Plante, President. “The recent auction results reveal that we’re at a critical juncture where DERs must be leveraged to fill this gap and ensure the reliability and affordability of our electricity grid and the safety of our communities moving forward. Voltus’s portfolio of DERs is ready now to provide critical electricity grid relief.”

Plante explains that Voltus could be doing even more to help the electricity grid this summer. “We have been beating this drum for years: the reliability and affordability of the electric grid and the well-being of our communities are being jeopardized by state-level Public Utility Commissions’ (PUC) bans on demand side resources from participating in these markets. Nine out of the eleven MISO states that have banned aggregators from delivering all available demand response - Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin - fall within the seven MISO zones most at risk for blackouts and brownouts.” Plante emphasizes, “Voltus could add an additional 1,000 MWs to its existing MISO portfolio this summer through existing customer relationships across these states if these bans are lifted. We are working at all levels to press for the removal of these bans, thus reducing the likelihood of blackouts that harm the economy, the environment, and lead to the loss of lives.”

Voltus has been at the forefront of advocating for regulatory changes at the federal level, urging FERC to pass a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), which would disabuse state level bans entirely. Other groups, including the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA), are also speaking out. Paul Cicio, IECA President, in Monday’s press release stated, “It is of immediate importance that FERC issue the NOPR that would reverse the state demand response Opt Out to avoid high electricity costs and serious reliability problems as early as this summer. This action will reduce inflation, electricity costs, and improve reliability.”

Voltus encourages customers across MISO to prepare for this summer’s potential shortfalls by enrolling in DER programs immediately. Participating in these programs not only provides an early warning of pending brownouts and blackouts, but also creates an additional revenue stream for these businesses. To get started, email info@voltus.co or register for Voltus’s May 18, 2022 webinar by clicking here to learn more.

About Voltus

Voltus is the leading software technology platform connecting distributed energy resources to electricity markets, delivering less expensive, more reliable, and more sustainable electricity. Our commercial and industrial customers and DER partners generate cash by allowing Voltus to maximize the value of their flexible load, distributed generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle resources in these markets. To learn more, visit www.voltus.co.

On November 30, 2021, Broadscale Acquisition Corp. ("Broadscale") (Nasdaq: SCLE) entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination with Voltus. The combined company is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq upon completion of the transaction. The transaction is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022 and is subject to approval by Broadscale's stockholders, the registration statement being declared effective by the SEC, and other customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, revenue and other metrics, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of Voltus market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Broadscale and its management, and Voltus and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations which include, but are not limited to: 1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the definitive merger agreement with respect to the business combination; 2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Voltus, Broadscale, the combined company or others following the announcement of the business combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; 3) the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain approval of the stockholders of Broadscale or Voltus, or to satisfy other conditions to closing the business combination; 4) changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations or as a condition to obtaining regulatory approval of the business combination; 5) the ability to meet Nasdaq's listing standards following the consummation of the business combination; 6) the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of Voltus as a result of the announcement and consummation of the business combination; 7) the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; 8) costs related to the business combination; 9) changes in applicable laws or regulations; 10) the possibility that Voltus or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business and/or competitive factors; 11) Voltus’s estimates of its financial performance; 12) the risk that the business combination may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Broadscale’s securities; 13) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by Broadscale’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by Broadscale; 14) the impact of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic, including any mutations or variants thereof, and its effect on business and financial conditions; 15) inability to complete the PIPE investment in connection with the business combination; and 16) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Broadscale’s registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-262287), filed with the SEC on January 21, 2022 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on March 18, 2022 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”), and other documents filed by Broadscale from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Broadscale nor Voltus gives any assurance that either Broadscale or Voltus or the combined company will achieve its expected results. Neither Broadscale nor Voltus undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.

Use of Projections

This press release may contain financial or operational forecasts of Voltus. Neither Voltus’s independent auditors, nor the independent registered public accounting firm of Broadscale, audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the projections for the purpose of their inclusion in this press release, and accordingly, neither of them expressed an opinion or provided any other form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of this press release. These projections should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. The projected financial and/or operational information contained in this press release constitutes forward-looking information. The assumptions and estimates underlying such projected information are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic, competitive and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the prospective financial information. See “Forward-Looking Statements'' above. Actual results may differ materially from the results contemplated by the projected information contained in this press release, and the inclusion of such information in this press release should not be regarded as a representation by any person that the results reflected in such projections will be achieved.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, Broadscale has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission the Registration Statement, which included a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective, Broadscale will mail a definitive proxy statement /prospectus relating to the proposed transaction to its stockholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transactions. Broadscale’s stockholders and other interested persons are urged to carefully read the Registration Statement, including the preliminary proxy statement / preliminary prospectus, and any amendments thereto, and, when available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the proposed transaction, as these materials contain, or will contain, important information about the proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed transaction.

Broadscale’s stockholders and other interested persons will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the preliminary proxy statement / preliminary prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC, without charge, when available, at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.

The documents filed by Broadscale with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Broadscale’s website at https://www.broadscalespac.com or upon written request to 1845 Walnut Street, Suite 1111, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PRESS RELEASE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

Participants in the Solicitation

Broadscale and Voltus and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Broadscale’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Broadscale’s stockholders and other interested persons may obtain, without charge, more detailed information regarding the directors and executive officers of Broadscale listed in the Registration Statement. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Broadscale’s stockholders in connection with the proposed business combination is set forth in the Registration Statement.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or solicit any securities or any proxy, vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be deemed to be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220517006214/en/

Investor Relations Contact – Voltus

John Lowe, VP Investor Relations

Investors@Voltus.co



Media Contact – Voltus

Matt Dallas, ICR, Inc.

VoltusPR@icrinc.com

Source: Voltus, Inc.

FAQ

What is Voltus's role in addressing MISO's projected 5,000 MW shortfall?

Voltus has a nearly 500 MW portfolio ready to help meet MISO's projected 5,000 MW shortfall this summer by leveraging demand-side resources.

What is the significance of the state demand-side resource bans for Voltus?

The bans prevent Voltus from utilizing an additional 1,000 MW capacity, which is crucial for enhancing grid reliability during potential shortages.

How does Voltus plan to influence regulatory changes for the demand response market?

Voltus is urging FERC to lift bans on demand-side resources in various states to improve electricity grid reliability and reduce outages.

What are the implications of the recent MISO Capacity Auction results?

The auction revealed significant gaps in capacity, highlighting the need for demand response resources to maintain grid reliability.

What potential risks does Voltus face this summer due to electricity shortages?

If the demand-side resource bans remain, there is a heightened risk of controlled outages affecting customers in the MISO regions.