Tom from Portland. Started asking clients whether they are enrolled in their utility's demand response program and the answer is almost universally no. These programs pay customers to reduce load during grid stress events. Are most auditors bringing this up or is it outside scope?
Demand response programs — are my clients missing free money?
Walt from Pittsburgh. I bring it up on every engagement. It is not a billing error but it is a bill reduction opportunity and clients appreciate it. I frame it as additional optimization beyond the core audit findings.
Mike D from Raleigh. Demand response credits can be substantial for industrial clients with flexible loads. I had one manufacturing client earn $18,000 in annual DR credits with no capital investment required.
How do I evaluate whether a client is a good DR candidate without doing a full load analysis?
Terry from Knoxville. Three quick questions: Do you have any production processes you can pause for 2 to 4 hours on short notice? Do you have backup generation? Do you have HVAC or refrigeration that can be pre-cooled before an event? One yes to any of these makes them a candidate worth investigating.