How it Works
ECS’ PowerPay! New England program pays businesses to conserve electricity for a few hours, if the need arises.
PowerPay! New England helps electricity companies in the NE ISO electric territory meet peak electricity demand and defer the need to build a new peaking power plant.
1. Enrollment: If you want a face-to-face meeting, an ECS representative will come to your
location to explain the program, review your facility and estimate the payment to your
company. Alternatively, we can arrange a conference call to get started.
Eligibility requirements vary between regions; for an accurate estimate, contact an ECS
representative by calling 877-711-5453; or fill out the short Revenue $$$ Estimate form.
2. Metering: You need an interval meter at your facility. If you do not have one, an interval meter
will be installed on-site, free of charge. ECS will access your interval data for reduction
verification. In most cases, you will have the ability to log in and view your facility's interval
demands, kWh usage, voltage levelts, etc.
3. Reduction Events: An Event can be called only on non-holiday weekdays. Historically, there
have been just 2 to 3 events per year, for a maximum of 4 to 6 hours each.
4. Planning for a Reduction Event: You should put together a “Reduction Action Plan” that
outlines who in your company is responsible for making electric reductions in the instance that
an Event is called. Having a plan will ensure that you carry out your reductions in an orderly
manner with the full cooperation of your employees. ECS can help you set up your plan.
Potential reduction strategies include shutting off equipment or processes, pumps and fans,
turning off lighting, easing back or shutting down air conditioning and, if applicable,
utilizing a generator. If you have an energy management system, reductions can be made from
a central location.
5. Notice of a Reduction Event: When an Event is called, the individuals identified as Event
contacts at your company will be notified by email, phone, text and/or fax.
When your Event contacts receive notice, they will implement your Reduction Action Plan, going
down the list of who in your company needs to be aware of the Event and what reduction
strategies are to be implemented.
6. During a Reduction Event: Your facility should have all reductions in effect 10 minutes before
the start of the Event. Make sure that staff is aware of this event and does not turn anything on
or up that should remain off or reduced. If you have questions during the Event, contact ECS.
7. After the Reduction Event: You should maintain reductions until 5 minutes after the end of
the Event. At this point in time, you may return to your usual state of electric consumption.
8. Performance: Your performance is determined by how much you reduce your electric demand
from a predetermined baseline. Your reduction is measured against your peak electric demands
from the prior year.
Your actual performance is compared to your kW commitment.
9. Payment: Your company will earn payment via a check for performing to your committed
electric reduction levels during Events.
Participation Payment = fixed rate or percentage of auction price per kW committed
Event Payment = 80 - 90% of associated energy payments for actual kWh reduced during
an Event
