Frequently Asked Questions

A demand response event occurs on a day when the electric grid experiences very high demand. Efficiency Maine and Curtailment Service Providers (CSPs) can “call events” based on the forecasted grid conditions. Calling an event will initiate demand response activities such as battery discharging, avoidance of electric vehicle charging, or load curtailment. 

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) are a measure of energy stored in a battery, for example, whereas kilowatts (kW) are the speed at which a battery can charge or discharge. For example, a 15 kWh battery charging at a speed of 5 kW will take three hours to charge.

If you need to charge your vehicle during a demand response event, simply click the “Opt-Out-of-Event” button on the email or SMS notification you received about that event. Another option, for non-Tesla vehicles only, is to unplug and replug in your vehicle during the event period.

During peak grid conditions, a household’s or business’s ability to reduce its electricity use can delay or avoid dependence on expensive and dirty power plants. Additionally, peak reduction can delay or avoid the construction of expensive transmission infrastructure. Both of these costs are typically passed on to ratepayers in the form of higher electricity bills.