Consumer FAQ on DR Providers
(also known as Aggregators)
Electricity customers in California have
the choice to participate in DR programs provided by independent commercial
entities, called “demand response providers” or “aggregators”. This
page contains a Q&A for customers considering working with a DR provider.
Q: What is a Demand Response
Provider (DRP) or aggregator?
A: A DRP/aggregator
is a commercial entity that provides demand response services such as
assisting retail customers with strategies or technology to reduce their
electric consumption and then making the electric load reductions as a
‘bid’ in wholesale energy markets. Some entities focus entirely on working
with customers to reduce their electric consumption and paying incentives for
their reductions. Such entities are often referred to as “aggregators” and
will have commercial arrangements with other entities that specialize in
interfacing with the wholesale market. The wholesale-facing entities are
called Demand Response Providers (DRPs). Some entities will handle both retail
and wholesale transactions. The bidding of retail customers’
load reductions in wholesale markets is often referred to as “Direct
Participation”.
Q: Is there a difference
between participating in a DRP/aggregator program and participating in the
utilities’ DR programs?
A: The
general concept in either scenario is basically the same: electric retail
customers will be called upon by the utility or the DRP to reduce their
electric demand on certain days within certain hour(s), and in exchange for
that reduction, the customer can receive a financial incentive. The terms and
conditions for participation and incentives will vary, and electric retail
customers should fully inform themselves of those details before they enroll
in any demand response program. On the wholesale side, the utilities and DRPs
will be bidding in the demand response, although not all DR programs are
designed to be bid into wholesale markets at the moment.
CPUC
Registered Non-Utility
Demand Response Providers
|
Contact Information
|
Residential or
Small Commercial Customers?
|
Service Territory
|
EnergyHub,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0002
www.energyhub.com
|
Erika Diamond, VP
& GM of Energy Markets
(347) 244-3323
diamond@energyhub.net
232
3rd Street, C201,
Brooklyn, NY 11215
|
YES
|
PG&E
SCE
|
OhmConnect,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0003
www.ohmconnect.com
|
Matthew
Duesterberg, CEO
(844) 646-2664
talk@ohmconnect.com
350
Townsend St., Suite 210,
San Francisco, CA 94107
|
YES
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Stem,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0005
www.stem.com
|
Cecilia Zhou,
Senior Program Manager
(415) 937-7836 (phone)
(415) 373-0484 (fax)
cecilia.zhou@stem.com
100 Rollins Road,
Millbrae, CA 94030
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
IPKeys
Power Partners, LLC
CPUC-DRP-0006
ipkeyspowerpartners.com
|
Robert Nawy,
Managing Director and CFO
(732) 982-3145
rnawy@ipkeys.com
12 Christopher Way, Suite 301,
Eatontown, NJ 07724
|
NO
|
SCE
|
Olivine,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0007
olivineinc.com
|
Robert Anderson, Chief
Technology Officer
(888) 717-3331
support@olivineinc.com
2010 Crow Canyon Place, Suite 100,
San Ramon, CA 94583
|
YES
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Engie
Storage Services NA LLC
formerly, Green Charge Networks LLC
CPUC-DRP-0008
www.engiestorage.com/
business-government/
|
Michael Laine,
Client Relationship Director
(408) 669-4277 ext. 1014
michael.laine@engie.com
4151 Burton Drive,
Santa Clara, CA 95054
|
NO
|
SCE
SDG&E
|
Chai,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0009
chaienergy.com
|
Joseph Cole Hershkowitz,
CEO
(310) 261-7289
support@chaienergy.net
525
S Hewitt Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90013
|
YES
|
SCE
|
Formerly:
Electric
Motor Werks, Inc.
DBA eMotorWerks, Inc.
Now a part of Enel X
Enel X North America Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0021
https://www.enelx.com
|
Kelly Smith, Internal Controls
Specialist
(919) 244-9043
kelly.smith@enel.com
One Marina Park Drive, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02210
|
YES
|
|
AutoGrid
Systems, Inc.
CPUC-DRP-00011
www.auto-grid.com
|
Jason Huang,
Director, Industry Solutions
(866) 652-5889
jason.huang@auto-grid.com
255 Shoreline Drive, Suite 350,
Redwood City, CA 94065
|
YES
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Advanced
Microgrid Solutions, Inc.
CPUC-DRP-00012
www.advmicrogrid.com
|
AMS Customer Care
(415) 638-6146
info@advmicrogrid.com
25 Stillman St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
|
NO
|
SCE
|
EDF
Trading North America, LLC
CPUC-DRP-00013
www.edftrading.com/
contact/our-offices
|
Nathan Mancha,
Director Demand Response
(281) 653-1782
nathan.mancha@edfenergyservices.com
4700 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N., Ste 250,
Houston, TX 77041
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
|
NRG
Curtailment Solutions, Inc.
CPUC-DRP-00014
demandresponse.nrg.com
|
Nick Colca,
Customer Care Manager
(716) 906-5136
nick.colca@nrg.com
4433 Genesee Street, Suite 401,
Buffalo, NY, 14225
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Sunrun
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-00015
www.sunrun.com
|
Sunrun Customer
Care
(855) 478-6786
customercare@sunrun.com
595
Market Street, Suite 3900,
San Francisco, CA 94105
|
YES
|
PG&E
|
Tesla,
Inc.
CPUC-DRP-00016
www.tesla.com/commercial
|
Eliah Gilfenbaum,
Market Analysis & Energy Optimization
(650) 681-5331
egilfenbaum@tesla.com
3500 Deer Creek Road,
Palo Alto, CA 94304
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
|
Leapfrog Power, Inc.
DBA Leap.
CPUC-DRP-0017
www.leap.ac
|
Andrew Hoffman, Chief Development perating Officer
(415) 409-9783
contact@leap.energy
1700 Montgomery St., Suite 200
San Francisco, CA 94111
|
YES
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Enerwise Global Technologies, Inc.
DBA
CPower
CPUC DRP-0018
cpowerenergymanagement.com
|
Eric Ring,
Supervisor
(925) 433-2165
Eric.Ring@CPowerEnergyManagement.com
1001 Fleet Street, Suite 400
Baltimore, MD 21202
|
NO
|
SCE
SDG&E
|
Shell Energy North America, L.P.
CPUC-DRP-0019
www.shell.com
|
Marcie Milner, Vice
President, Regulatory
(858) 526-2106
marcie.milner@shell.com
4445 Eastgate Mall, Suite #100
San Diego, CA 92121
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E
|
Trane Grid Services LLC
CPUC-DRP-0020
www.trane.com
|
Chad Singer, Technical Leader
(502) 214-9333
Chad.Singer@trane.com
10200 Forest Green Blvd., Suite 601
Louisville, KY 40223
|
NO
|
PG&E
SCE
SDG&E |
Enel X North America Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0021
https://www.enelx.com
|
Kelly Smith, Internal Controls
Specialist
(919) 244-9043
kelly.smith@enel.com
One Marina Park Drive, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02210
|
NO
|
SCE
PG&E
|
Voltus, Inc.
CPUC-DRP-0022
https://www.voltus.co/
|
James Gill, Energy Markets Manager
(760) 822-9027
james@voltus.co2443 Fillmore Street #380-3427
San Francisco, CA 94115
|
NO
|
SCE
PG&E
|
Updated as of 1/24/2020
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|
|
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Q: Does the CPUC have rules
for DRPs/aggregators?
A: Yes. The
rules for DRPs/aggregators cover a variety of topics many of which are
described in more detail below. One of the main rules is that DRPs/aggregators
that serve utility bundled customers must register with the CPUC.
Q: Where can I find the DRP/aggregator
rules?
A: These
rules are referenced as Rule 24 in PG&E’s and SCE’s tariffs and as
Rule 32 in SDG&E’s tariffs.
Q: Where
can I find a list of DRPs/aggregators registered with the CPUC?
A: All DRPs/aggregators
enrolling bundled utility customers must have a valid registration with the
CPUC. Customers should confirm a DRP/aggregator is properly registered with
the CPUC prior to signing a contract for DR services from a DRP/aggregator. A list of registered DRPs/aggregators can be found below:
Q: Can a customer enroll with
a DRP/aggregator and a utility DR program?
A:
Generally no. A customer typically may not enroll with a DRP/aggregator while
also enrolling in a utility DR program. There are some exceptions. The DRP/aggregator
or utility would inform the customer if it cannot proceed with a dual
enrollment.
Q: What are the rules on
access to my meter data?
A:
Accessing a customer’s meter data is a critical requirement for direct
participation DR. All DRPs/aggregators must obtain customer approval in order
to access the customer’s electric usage data and other personal information
regarding the customer’s service account. The customer’s consent is
provided through its utility’s Authorization or Revocation of Authorization
to Disclose Customer Information to a Demand Response Provider (CISR-DRP form)
The customer may obtain the CISR-DRP form
from its utility or DRP/aggregator. The CISR-DRP form also allows the customer
to revoke, at any time, any previously granted authorization, subject to any
early termination provisions specified in the contract between the DRP/aggregator
and customer.
The CISR-DRP form provides the customer
with options to authorize its DRP/aggregator to access to meter data,
including for a specified period of time or indefinitely, until revoked by the
customer. If the customer makes no election, its utility will assume that the
customer authorization is for an indefinite period of time.
With customer permission, its DRP/aggregator may also act as its agent to automatically
revoke data transmittal on the customer’s behalf upon disenrollment from DR
Service.
It is important to know that when
discontinuing DR Service with a DRP/aggregator, it will be the customer’s
responsibility to REVOKE authorization to STOP the transmittal of its energy
usage data and other previously authorized personal information from its
utility to the DRP/aggregator.
Q: What are CPUC policies on
customer privacy?
A: Once a
customer authorizes disclosure of its electricity usage data and other
personal information to a DRP/aggregator, the DRP/aggregator is required to
maintain the privacy and security of that data, subject to the Commission’s
privacy policies. The CPUC’s privacy policies can be found in Decisions (D.) 11-07-056.
Q: What if I have a complaint
against a DRP/aggregator or my utility? What can I do?
A:
Customers have the option to file a complaint or action at the appropriate
civil court or agency. They may also file a formal complaint, informal
complaint, or seek alternate dispute resolution (ADR) at the CPUC regarding
the DR Services.
For up-to-date information on filing an informal complaint, please visit the Consumer Affairs Branch.
Formal Complaint:
Through the Formal Complaint procedure,
the Commission can order the DRP to take corrective action, including
reimbursements for non-payment of performance. It is important to note,
however, that the Commission is not allowed to award damages for such things
as personal injury, property damage, emotional distress, or loss of wages or
profits. To request compensation for damages, the customer must file a claim
in a civil court.
Privacy Notice:
Whether or not your Formal Complaint is
filed in paper form or electronically, Formal Complaints filed with the
Commission become a public record and may be posted on the CPUC’s website.
Therefore, any information you provide in the Formal Complaint, including, but
not limited to, your name, address, city, state, zip code, telephone number,
email address and the facts of your case may be available on-line for later
public viewing.
A formal complaint must be filed at the
Commission. If you need help with or have any questions about filing
your formal complaint, contact CPUC’s Public Advisor's Office or visit our formal complaints information page..
The Public Advisor
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
866-849-8390 (toll free)
415-703-2074
public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov
For detailed instructions on the filing
of an informal or formal complaint can be found on our website.
Q: What is Alternative
Dispute Resolution Program (ADR)?
ADR commonly describes processes, such as
facilitation, negotiation, mediation, and early neutral evaluation to help
disputants resolve a conflict without a formal decision by a court or agency.
When successful, ADR may achieve results that a court or agency could not
order, give the parties more ownership in the result, and reduce litigation
and agency costs.
The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
Division administers the ADR program and trained, experienced ALJs serve as
neutrals in the program.
ADR can occur at any time during a formal
proceeding. The early use of ADR saves parties time and money and avoids
unnecessary escalation of a dispute. On occasion, ADR may be available to help
resolve disputes that are still informal and have yet to be filed as formal
complaints. Most ADR sessions are completed in ½ to 2 days. Some ADR sessions
continue over several weeks, with the parties meeting for a day or two at a
time.
For additional information visit our Alternative Dispute Resolution Program page.
Useful Contact
Information
California Public Utilities
Commission
Consumer Affairs Branch Hotline
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Call 800-649-7570 (toll free) or
415-703-4973
Energy Division
drp_registration@cpuc.ca.gov