5 Keys to Demand Response Success in Ontario

Whether you are an experienced demand response veteran or gearing up for your first season, Enel X is here to make sure you are prepared to participate and maximize your earnings. Below, you’ll find the most important things that Ontario demand response participants need to know as summer approaches. From program rules and updates to best practices, as our partner, your success matters to us. If you have any questions, we hope you reach out to us right away.

1. EnerNOC is now Enel X
   We are proud to be part of the Enel family, and are more dedicated than ever to being your advocate in the evolving energy landscape. We know the market is getting smarter, with businesses increasingly exerting control over their energy usage and costs. Enel X extends EnerNOC’s portfolio, including more integrated solutions like distributed energy resources. If this is interesting to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Otherwise, we will continue to be the market- leading demand response provider, driven by the success and happiness of our customers.

2. There are two important changes to the program this season

   The IESO has modified their procedures to determine when it is appropriate to send DR participants a standby notice. This means it is more likely that you will receive a notice. Please remember that the notice does not mean you have been dispatched, so do not enact your Energy Reduction Plan until you receive an official dispatch activation, as doing so can negatively impact your performance numbers. Additionally, the minimum emergency dispatch length has been reduced from four hours to just one hour; this change should help minimize any impact such a dispatch might have on your operations. Note that this rule does not impact audits, and their length remains unchanged.

3. Prepare for your dispatch before it happens

   To ensure you meet your performance goals during a dispatch, advance preparation is crucial. Please make sure your site contact information is current, and notify us immediately at support.enelx@enel.com if there are any updates. Spend some time reviewing your Energy Reduction Plan with those site contacts to ensure that they are ready to respond, and make sure you are familiar with your drop-to target.

4. Our new demand response application is here

   We’re excited to provide unprecedented insight into your DR participation, including improved data, visibility into past dispatch performance and payment history, and a mobile app to access important dispatch information wherever you are. Our experience indicates that customers that use our software tools to monitor their performance during a dispatch perform better by almost 25%. You can access the platform at apps.enelx.com.

5. Consider the value of distributed energy resources

   For many Ontario businesses, the ability to operate critical equipment independently from the grid is becoming increasingly valuable. Energy storage and other DERs can power critical equipment during grid outages, avoid spikes in energy prices, reduce costly utility charges based on grid demand peaks, and boost your DR earnings. Our experts are standing by to model the best system to accommodate your operational needs. If you’re interested in learning how we helped one Ontario organization manage costs while helping the community, watch this brief video.