Entergy New Orleans launches incentivized demand response programs to support grid stability
Tapping into demand response technologies as a means to support grid stability, Entergy New Orleans is now offering residential and business customers the chance to reduce energy usage during high demand periods and earn incentives along the way.
“Entergy New Orleans is committed to providing a clean energy future, and that includes working with customers to deliver innovative solutions to help effectively manage electrical demand and customer budgets,” David Ellis, Entergy New Orleans president and CEO, said. “By offering technology-centered demand response options, we are delivering load relief to the grid while offering our customers attractive financial incentives.”
Managed by Entergy’s Energy Smart organization, offered programs include EasyCool Smart Thermostats, which make small, automatic degree adjustments to smart thermostats during high electricity usage periods, and EasyCool Direct Load, which control cycles residential customers’ air conditioners on and off to reduce energy use. In the latter, this would reduce the compressors of participating air conditioners to 50 percent of their usual run time, while allowing fans to continue operating.
By participating, the company’s more than 200,000 electricity customers could earn incentives by temporarily reducing their electricity when system demand is at its highest, to the tune of $40 per year. Beyond that, they could also earn a $25 sign up bonus.
