On the hottest days of the year, you can feel it before you even check the forecast. The hum of air conditioners is constant, as homes, offices and businesses are all working hard to stay cool. Electricity use across New Jersey is at its highest on these days, which can quickly increase strain on our electric grid.
That’s where Demand Response comes in.
A simple idea with a sizable impact
Our Demand Response programs, FlexPower and SmartFlex, are built around the idea that when demand is highest, small shifts in how and when energy is used can make a difference for the grid.
And if you sign up for one of the programs, you’re not just helping the grid — you’ll also get rewarded for it. You can earn money for enrolling, participating and continuing with the program each year. It’s a win-win.
Participation might look like adjusting your thermostat by a few degrees for a short time or waiting until later in the evening to run the dishwasher.
On their own, these changes are almost unnoticeable. But combined across thousands of homes and small businesses, the adjustments can help keep energy flowing reliably.
Why the hottest days matter
On a typical day, the grid easily meets demand as people go about their routines.
But on very hot days, everything ramps up at once. Air conditioners run longer and appliances work harder. Demand rises quickly, all at the same time, and the grid must work harder to deliver electricity to everyone who needs it. It’s like rush hour on the grid.
During these periods, we may schedule what we call a Flex Hours Event. If you enroll in one of our programs, you’ll get a head’s up in advance of an event and, for a few hours, you’ll be asked to reduce or shift when and how you use electricity.
When demand is lowered, even slightly, it reduces the amount of electricity the grid needs to deliver all at once and makes it easier for the grid to keep up in real time.
What this looks like in your home
The programs differ slightly depending on your preferences and whether you have an eligible smart device in your home.
If you join our FlexPower Program, participation is easy. Enrolled smart devices, including eligible smart thermostats, electric vehicles and EV chargers, or certain smart electric water heaters, will automatically reduce energy use during Flex Hours Events. These temporary shifts to your energy use may include adjusting your thermostat or delaying EV charging or water heating.
You stay in control of your smart devices and can opt out of events at any time. When you sign up for FlexPower, you’ll get a one-time $50 prepaid gift card for each new device type you enroll, plus an additional $25 for every year you stay in the program. Certain small- to medium-sized businesses are also eligibe to join FlexPower.
If you enroll in our SmartFlex Program, you can participate with or without any smart devices in your home by actively reducing energy use on your own during events, with simple actions like turning your thermostat up a few degrees, holding off on laundry or unplugging unused electronics.
With SmartFlex, you’ll earn $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour of energy you save during these events.
What customers helped achieve
To date, more than 32,000 of our electric customers are enrolled in our Demand Response programs.
During Flex Hours Events last year, changes in energy use from FlexPower participants reduced electricity demand by up to 7.5 megawatts (MW), roughly equivalent to taking the average energy use of 3,500 homes off the grid during the busiest hours.
It’s a strong reminder that when many of us take part at the same time, our actions can make a meaningful impact.
More ways to take control of your energy use
As energy needs continue to change, Demand Response is just one way we’re helping customers manage energy use and support a more reliable grid.
You may have also heard of our Time of Use (TOU) electric rate. While Demand Response focuses on the few times per year when energy use is at its peak, TOU focuses on managing your daily energy use and behaviors, and the peaks that occur every weekday all year long. TOU encourages you to use energy at different times of the day with pricing that varies depending on when the electricity is use. Customers can benefit based on their schedule and energy use habits. Learn more at pseg.com/TOU.
Keeping New Jersey running — safely and reliably
Keeping service reliable is always our top priority. Programs like FlexPower, SmartFlex and TOU help reduce strain on the grid while giving customers more ways to manage their energy use and, in some cases, their energy costs.
On the hottest days, that approach is part of how we keep New Jersey running — safely, reliably and ready for what’s next.
To learn more and enroll, visit pseg.com/FlexPower and pseg.com/SmartFlex. For more ways to save energy, explore our full portfolio of residential and business energy efficiency programs at pseg.com/EnergyEfficiency.
