Frequently Asked Questions

The Efficiency Maine Demand Response Program pays eligible commercial and industrial (C&I) customers to temporarily reduce their electrical load during periods of peak demand on the New England grid. Events typically occur on 3 to 5 hot summer afternoons or evenings from June through August each year, coincident with the ISO-NE system peak. By shedding load during these hours, participants help improve grid reliability, defer costly infrastructure upgrades, and lower capacity costs for all Maine ratepayers.

Efficiency Maine administers the program for business customers of Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant Power. Businesses enroll and participate through one of Efficiency Maine’s approved Program Partners, who handle event notifications and incentive payments. Currently approved Program Partners are CPower, Competitive Energy Services (CES), and Voltus.

• The enrolled load reduction must be served by a commercial account with a Maine electric utility.
• The account cannot be on a Transmission or Sub-Transmission rate.
• The account must have an electrical demand greater than the proposed load reduction.
• An interval meter (utility meter or equivalent revenue-grade meter) must be installed to measure the enrolled load reduction.

Participants receive a performance-based incentive each winter calculated from the average kW of load reduced over the summer performance season. Efficiency Maine pays Program Partners $40 per kW of their enrolled portfolio’s verified performance. Program Partners in turn compensate participants directly, based on each customer’s individual contribution and the terms of their enrollment agreement. Because the program is strictly pay-for-performance, incentive payments reflect only the load reduction actually delivered during called events. Performance is measured using interval meter data collected throughout the season.

Contact one of the approved Program Partners listed below. The Partner will conduct a facility assessment, help develop a load reduction plan, and enroll the account with Efficiency Maine.

During the summer season, the Program Partner issues a notice the day before an event is called and supports the customer in executing the load reduction plan. After the season, performance is calculated based on average kW reduction across the top 3 hours of ISO NE load.

Each enrolled account must be a commercial account served by CMP or Versant Power and must have an interval meter (either the utility meter or an equivalent revenue grade meter) capable of measuring the enrolled load reduction. Load reduction events typically occur between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and total 3 to 5 events per season.

Accounts on a Transmission or Sub-Transmission rate are not eligible. Backup generators may be used to curtail load only if they are properly permitted and are operated in compliance with all applicable air quality and environmental requirements.

Reach out directly to one of Efficiency Maine’s approved Program Partners to discuss enrollment or contact Efficiency Maine for general program questions.