Energy Partner On Demand

Energy Partner On Demand is a PGE program that pays your business to reduce and shift energy use during times of high demand. By participating in the program, you can earn financial incentives, help keep energy more reliable by reducing strain on the grid and keep costs in check by limiting the need for more expensive supplemental power.

The program is available to large commercial, industrial, and municipal customers served under qualifying PGE rate schedules. A PGE Energy Expert will confirm your eligibility during a free, no-obligation energy assessment.

No, we’re not asking you to shut down your entire business. The program is designed to avoid disruption. Most participants only shift non-critical processes for short periods, ensuring operations continue smoothly while incentives are earned. You decide what to curtail and when. Most participants choose to reduce only a small portion of their total load (often 10–20% of their kW).

To help you succeed, PGE provides free consulting services to identify the best actions for your facility. We’ll work with you to create a customized load reduction plan and offer ongoing support throughout your participation to ensure you maximize both performance and incentives.

Every load reduction plan is customized depending on the type of business you operate, but common strategies include:

• Shifting non-critical production to different hours.

• Adjusting HVAC set points by 2–4°F, cycling or staging pumps, motors, or variable speed drives and/or controlling lights or loads in non-critical areas.

Participation can be automated or manual. Many customers prefer automation, where equipment responds to PGE signals automatically, while others choose to have their staff take manual actions during each event.

Participation in Energy Partner On Demand is free. Enrollment, your initial energy assessment, and the communication equipment needed for program participation are provided at no cost to you. In most cases, you can participate without additional expense, but if you choose to make facility upgrades or install advanced controls to maximize your incentives, a portion of those costs are the responsibility of your business.

In summer or winter, temperatures can be extreme. During those times, demand for electricity increases and may put a strain on the grid. On those days, we will schedule a Peak Time Event. When everyone on the program shifts their energy use during the same few hours, it makes a big difference. Programs like Energy Partner On Demand help lower costs, keep energy more reliable and reward customers for reducing energy use during peak times. Together, by making small shifts when and how we use energy it adds up!

You’ll receive advance notice (as much as 18 hours to 4 hours, or as little as 10 minutes, depending on the option you choose). You may get emails, texts, and phone calls depending on your notification preferences. During the event, you follow your personalized load reduction plan.

There are typically seven Peak Time Events each summer and five to six events each winter. Each event lasts 3-4 hours. Here are the summer and winter seasons:

• Summer season runs June 1 through September 30. Events are most common in the afternoons and evenings, generally between 4–8 p.m.

• Winter season runs November 1 through February 28th. Events are most common in the mornings and evenings, generally between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.

There are two types of incentives. Reservation Payments are monthly payments for your committed load reduction, and Energy Payments are extra incentives for the energy you reduce during actual events. If events are called, Reservation Payments are based on how much of your commitment you deliver, so your payments reflect your performance.

In some cases, PGE may also offer incentives to help offset the cost of installing or upgrading control systems that make it easier to automate your participation. These opportunities are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and will be discussed during your initial energy assessment/site walk.

You have flexibility built into the program. Each season, you can pre-schedule up to four “opt-out days” when no events will be called for you. Outside of those, if an event is called and you choose not to participate, your performance for that month may not meet program requirements — which could reduce or eliminate your Reservation Payment and Energy Payments for that month.

If you’d like to enroll or have questions, you can contact your PGE representative, call 503-610-2377, or email energypartner@pgn.com. Our PGE Energy Experts are here to help.