OhmConnect Paid Members $2.7M and Saved 1.5 GWh of Energy During Recent California Heat Wave

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Sep 29, 2022, 08:51 ET

Heat Wave During Labor Day Weekend Put Unprecedented Strain on the Grid;
OhmConnect Members Reduced Energy Use on Sept. 6 Equivalent to Output of 3 Power Plants

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OhmConnect, the leading provider of residential energy flexibility, supported the California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) Flex Alerts during the recent extended heat wave by incentivizing reduced home energy usage from Wednesday, August 31 to Thursday, September 8. In just nine days, OhmConnect's active members received over $2.7M in rewards and saved 1.5 GigaWatt hours (GWh) of energy, the equivalent of taking 1 million homes off the grid for an hour.

OhmConnect helps balance California's electric grid during periods of peak demand by paying its more than 200,000 active California members to reduce their home energy use when the grid is stressed. Members receive text and email alerts indicating when to power down in order to save electricity, and if they use less energy than forecasted, they earn rewards and save on their monthly utility bills.

During the nine-day heat wave, OhmConnect sent 6 million communications to its members; and toggled members' smart energy devices (such as smart thermostats and smart plugs) off and on 1.3 million times. OhmConnect members authorize OhmConnect to turn their smart devices off and on remotely, while retaining the ability to override and control their devices at all times. OhmConnect also awarded its members gift cards during the heat wave that can be redeemed for 30,140 buckets of popcorn, 17,349 tubs of ice cream; and 22,570 mocha lattes.

On September 6th, air conditioning needs pushed statewide electricity demand to a record-high 52 Gigawatts, threatening to cause rolling power outages. In response to CAISO's September 6th emergency alert, OhmConnect members delivered 374 MWh of reductions – equivalent to the output of three power plants.

"OhmConnect is built to make rolling blackouts a thing of the past," said Cisco DeVries, CEO, OhmConnect. "Our technology puts at-home energy management in the hands of our members, helping to avoid the need for energy blackouts across entire regions. The best part is that the OhmConnect community gets paid to do the right thing at the right time. They have really stepped up during this unprecedented energy crisis."

OhmConnect is a free program, and Californians whose utility providers are PG&E, Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are eligible to participate.

California residents can sign up for OhmConnect here.
New York residents can sign up for OhmConnect here.
Texas residents can sign up for OhmConnect here.

About OhmConnect

OhmConnect, winner of the 2021 Fast Company World Changing Ideas Award, helps hundreds of thousands of customers manage their at-home electricity and rewards them for smarter energy use. The company pays its customers for saving electricity when the grid is stressed and likely to utilize dirty power, unlocking clean, affordable, and reliable energy. With more than $18 million in rewards paid to its customers, OhmConnect is making a future of 100% clean energy accessible to everyone. Customers of the three major California electric utilities – Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) – as well as Con Edison in New York, can sign up with OhmConnect for free at ohmconnect.com. Texas residents can select OhmConnect as their retail electric provider. Follow OhmConnect on Twitter @OhmConnect, read the OhmConnect blog or check them out on Facebook and LinkedIn.