Demand response (DR) in PJM was once relatively straightforward. Enroll, pass a test, and remain on standby while collecting a check.  

That era is over - and for businesses paying attention, that’s actually good news.

PJM’s Emergency Load Response Program (ELRP) is being dispatched more frequently than ever. This past summer, PJM dispatched customers in some zones for 30 hours across 8 events in June and July 2025 to manage heat wave-driven grid strain. That’s a 15x increase in dispatch hours from just two years ago.

More dispatch hours mean more revenue opportunities. But only if your curtailment service provider is set up to help you capture it.

A $131,000 Lesson in Provider Selection

A chemical processing company learned this the hard way. They were enrolled in PJM Synchronized Reserves and Economic Demand Response with Voltus, and ELRP with a different provider. When Voltus conducted a seasonal earnings review, we spotted a problem: their ELRP provider didn’t dispatch them during the June 2025 heat wave. The result was $131,000 in missed energy payments and a lost opportunity to support grid stability.

After running a competitive bidding process, they consolidated their DR participation with Voltus. By optimizing their response times and right-sizing their nominations, they are now positioned to curtail and respond to grid events actively, ensuring they’re on track to capture available energy payments when the grid needs them most.

This isn’t a one-off story. We see it regularly with companies whose DR strategy hasn’t kept pace with how the market actually operates today. The longer that gap persists, the more available revenue they miss - because they don’t get paid to stand by; they get paid to curtail and act when the grid is stressed.

What Ready Looks Like in 2026 

The difference between capturing dispatch revenue and missing it comes down to a few factors that Voltus builds into every customer relationship. 

1. ‍Visibility you can act on. Your participation plan, load reduction targets, and forecasted earnings are available in the Voltus platform 24/7/365 - not in a spreadsheet someone sends you three months later.‍
2. Performance that improves during events. Voltus provides you with 30-second meter data and live coaching during events, so you’re never flying blind at the moment it matters most.‍
3. Nominations handled for you. Our streamlined process gets you enrolled in the market program you qualify for with minimal lift on your end.‍
4. Seasonal reviews before the season starts. We work through your curtailment plan in advance so your team knows exactly what to expect and how to perform.

The results speak for themselves: during June’s heat wave, Voltus's customers outperformed the overall demand response market by 30%. 

Voltus can review your recent dispatch performance and utility data to pinpoint exactly where standing by, instead of acting on your operational flexibility, may be leaving available demand response revenue on the table. Contact Tyler Davis at tdavis@voltus.co or Sam Scuilli at sscuilli@voltus.co to schedule a review.