Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) today announced that its retail business has been selected by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an approved demand response service provider. As an approved demand response provider, Constellation Energy is pre-qualified to serve colleges, schools, local governments and state agencies.
Demand response is the reduction of electrical consumption in response to high wholesale electricity prices, system resource capacity needs or system reliability events. Program participants agree to curtail electricity usage during demand response events, often by a minimum of 100 kilowatts or more, and are paid a monthly or quarterly dollar amount per kilowatt based on how much electric load they commit to curtail and successfully deliver.
In Pennsylvania, Constellation Energy offers electricity curtailment programs through the regional transmission organization PJM, load-based utility incentives, and its own programs that allow customers greater flexibility in their level of participation.
“For state and local agencies, demand response can help to offset rising operating costs and provide additional revenue that can be allocated to energy efficiency upgrades or other otherwise unfunded capital programs,” said Louis Hutchinson, Constellation Energy's senior vice president, Public Sector. “Constellation Energy is proud to continue to support the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in meeting its energy and sustainability goals.”
In 2011, Constellation Energy was selected by Pennsylvania to provide competitive electricity supply to 185 commonwealth customers, bringing the total number of public sector accounts that Constellation Energy serves in Pennsylvania to 5,900. Constellation Energy has implemented energy efficiency projects for commonwealth customers including the Pennsylvania Capitol Complex, Department of Public Works and Penn State.
Constellation Energy currently manages demand response programs for commercial and industrial customers in the PJM, New England, New York, ERCOT, California and Ontario regions. The company’s VirtuWattTM 3.0, which is also available as an iPhone® and iPad® app, enables customers to better monitor and manage their electricity use and maximize the financial benefits of demand response programs through minute-to-minute metering, real-time pricing information, marketplace bidding capabilities and automated energy curtailment strategies. VirtuWatt’s open architecture is compatible with major building management systems. To watch a brief video about Constellation Energy’s VirtuWatt offering, please click here.
Governmental customers interested in solutions to manage their energy costs and meet environmental goals may contact Constellation Energy at constellationgov@constellation.com or visit www.constellation.com/government.
About Constellation Energy
Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com) is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $13.8 billion in 2011.
Contacts:
Kelly Biemer, 410-470-7433
