Demand response can mean more energy for everyone

A demand response program is a collaborative effort between a retail electricity company and its customers designed to manage demand for electricity during peak times. While this all sounds very technical, it boils down to customers intentionally reducing their electricity usage when demand is highest to help save energy.

For example, during the heat of a Texas summer afternoon, your AC unit uses a lot of energy to cool your home, creating a demand for more power. If you take part in a demand response program and raise your thermostat a few degrees during a period of high demand, you can help make sure everyone has the energy they need. Plus, you'll be cutting down on your own energy usage, which can help you save money on your electricity bill. 

For renters in particular, demand response presents a unique opportunity to make an impact on energy usage without the need for adding equipment or making renovations to their homes.

Key features of demand response programs:

• Incentives for participation: Participants are often rewarded for taking part in demand response programs, typically through bill credits or reduced rates, making energy savings personally satisfying.
• Smart home device integration: Many programs work with smart technology, allowing for automatic adjustments that make participation seamless and straightforward.
  
• Flexibility for customers: Customers don’t have to stick with any automatic adjustments made by their provider and can change the temperature of their thermostats or continue to use energy as normal whenever they’d like.
  

How renters can benefit:

• Cost savings: For budget-conscious renters, reducing energy usage during peak times can lead to savings on energy bills.
• Supporting the community: By helping reduce demand, you’re helping to prevent outages and ensure a reliable energy supply for everyone.
  
• Easy and impactful: Demand response programs offer a straightforward way for renters to make a meaningful impact on the environment and energy systems without needing landlord approval or making permanent changes to their homes.
  

How you can get involved

Texas renters who want to get started with demand response should look no further than Direct Energy’s Reduce Your Use program. When electricity demand is high, a Reduce Your Use event automatically adjusts your smart thermostat a few degrees to help you conserve without lifting a finger.

Depending on your thermostat, notifications may appear on your thermostat and in its mobile app when a Reduce Your Use event is in progress. During the event, your smart thermostat will adjust your target temperature by no more than 4 degrees. Your thermostat will return to its regular schedule after the event has ended, but you can override the automatic adjustments at any time.

How to sign up for Reduce Your Use

The program requires a Google Nest, Honeywell Home or Emerson Sensi smart thermostat, and it’s easy to get started. Sign up on our website or call 1-888-548-7540 to take a simple yet impactful step toward a more sustainable future.