BOSTON – In the effort for lower costs and greenhouse gas emissions, Eversource is leveraging the power of connected technology to enroll interested customers in a new program.
The program will automatically reduce demand on the electric grid for a few hours a month when electricity usage is at its highest.
During those few hours, Eversource will combine customer-owned devices, such as wireless thermostats, battery storage, and electric vehicle chargers, to reduce electric consumption during “peak” periods, when the cost and greenhouse gas emissions of electricity in New England are at its highest.
“This offering is an important step forward in Eversource’s vision for a decarbonized grid that is one-part large renewable resources, like off-shore wind and hydro, and one-part flexible resources like battery storage, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles,” said Eversource Director of Clean Energy Development Charlotte Ancel.
“With this program, we can optimize those flexible resources and harness them for energy savings on a regional level which reduces our reliance on costlier, fossil-fired generation. This is another example of how we’re working to help customers better manage their energy.”
Residential customers in Massachusetts with eligible connected wireless thermostats, battery storage, or electric vehicle chargers can participate and earn incentives ranging from $20 -$1,000 a year, depending on their connected device.
Business customers with electric vehicle charging stations and other eligible connected demand response devices can also participate and earn incentives.
Customers who enroll will allow their devices to automatically communicate with Eversource during regional peak energy periods, resulting in a short reduction of power or, in the case of batteries, a reduction of the stored energy. Eversource anticipates that at full enrollment, the collective ability to call on these customers during high demand periods could have the environmental equivalent effect of taking 20,000 homes off the grid. Similar incentive offerings are expected in New Hampshire and Connecticut.
Eversource is looking to get thousands of customer-owned devices enrolled over the next three years, amounting to approximately 100MW in total. Customers who are interested in learning more can send an email to: [email protected].
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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