Over 100,000 residents of Ontario have signed up for the Save on Energy Peak Perks program, an initiative by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) aimed at reducing peak demand on the electricity grid during hot summer days and ensuring its reliability.
Participants in Peak Perks contribute to the grid by using their smart thermostats to make temporary adjustments of up to two degrees Celsius during periods of high electricity demand. This occurs between June 1 and September 30 on weekday afternoons or early evenings.
Upon enrolling in Peak Perks, participants receive a $75 virtual prepaid credit card. Additionally, they receive a $20 virtual prepaid credit card each subsequent year they remain enrolled in the program.
Tam Wagner, the Director of Demand-Side Management at the IESO, is delighted at Ontario residents’ active involvement in energy efficiency through Peak Perks. Wagner emphasizes the significance of demand-side management in contributing to the reliability of the province’s electricity grid, particularly during peak air conditioning usage on hot summer days.
The Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, highlights Peak Perks as the largest demand response program in Canada and the fastest growing in North America. He notes that over 100,000 households are now reducing their electricity consumption and saving money on their bills, aligning with the government’s objective of minimizing family costs.
Erika Diamond, Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions at EnergyHub, the IESO’s service provider for the Peak Perks program, applauds the enrollment of over 100,000 homes within the first six months. Diamond considers this achievement a testament to the potential scale when electricity providers and customers collaborate on initiatives that offer mutual benefits. She states that the IESO is well on its way to establishing Canada’s largest residential virtual power plant, which will play a crucial role in grid reliability and advancing decarbonization.
During the summer of 2023, Peak Perks was activated six times, resulting in a maximum one-hour peak demand reduction of 54 megawatts (MW) during the final event in early September. With over 100,000 enrolled participants in Ontario, the current program could achieve a demand reduction of up to 90 MW. This reduction is equivalent to taking a city the size of Kingston off the grid during peak summer periods. It is expected that this number will increase as more devices are enrolled.
Residential electricity customers in Ontario who have central air conditioning or a heat pump controlled by a smart thermostat are eligible to participate in Peak Perks. Customers who have not yet enrolled can still receive a $75 virtual prepaid MasterCard® in 2024 and can begin the process by visiting the Save on Energy website.
Based on IESO’s news release
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