Ontario energy consumers take note – Voltus secures its place as a leading provider of demand response in this month’s capacity auction

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Kelly Yazdani

Ontario’s demand response market has grown for the sixth consecutive year and Voltus is continuing to grow with it. The IESO procured almost 1 GW of capacity at one tenth the per MW-Year cost of the generator contracts that make up the Global Adjustment. Capacity auctions provide a more flexible and cost effective option than generator contracts, and the IESO will increase its reliance on auctions as contracts expire over the next 20 years.

Voltus is now the 3rd largest Demand Response Aggregator in Ontario. “We are excited to provide our 82 MWs of customers with over $25,000 per MW each year responding to critical grid events in the province,” says Voltus Vice President of Energy Markets and Product Dana Guernsey. This demand response program will run from May through October next year, but is likely to return to running year-round in 2023, as the need for capacity increases. “The time is ripe for Ontario businesses to offer their operational flexibility to the grid as we expect the value of demand response in Ontario to only increase over time,” says Guernsey.

Source: Average of Recovery Scenarios provided in the July 22, 2020 IESO Planning Update

For Ontario businesses considering taking the plunge into demand response participation, this program is straightforward operationally and quite lucrative; the Summer season has historically only seen 1-2 events per year, equating to $3,000 to $6,000 per MWh in earnings potential.

Participation in programs like this helps reduce the Province’s dependence on fossil fuels and keeps electricity rates lower as new power plants and transmission line investments can be deferred. Program enrollment is limited though. The value goes to the first businesses to jump on board.

Interested in earning cash for your business through demand response? Email info@voltus.co to get started.

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Michael Pohlod, IESO Energy Markets Manager, mpohlod@voltus.co

Crush Global Adjustment Charges While Banking Toonies!

Posted on December 17, 2019 by greggdixon@voltus.co

If you’re like most commercial and industrial energy consumers in Ontario then you’re well aware of the expense of global adjustment charges on your electricity bill. You’re probably also aware that you can reduce these expenses if you’re able to predict when these charges are allocated on your bill. The expected annual expense for global adjustment charges is now over $600,000 per MW per year of peak demand, which is the average of your electricity demand during the five highest IESO system peak hours. That amounts to the highest capacity prices in the world . . . all the more reason to do everything you can to mitigate those expenses. If you’re interested in, and operationally able to, reduce demand to avoid these expenses then you’re also a perfect candidate to layer on additional value from IESO’s demand response program where you’re paid to be part of the energy market that procures capacity to satisfy Ontario power needs.

This webinar will focus on state-of-the-art methods, technologies, and secrets to crushing your global adjustment charges while hauling in as many toonies as you can through IESO’s demand response program! Sign up below and we’ll send you early January webinar dates and times for you to choose from.

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