Program Overview
The El Paso Electric Company (EPE) Load Management Standard Offer Program was developed in 2009 in response to changes in the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Substantive Rule 25.181 authorizing participating customers (Customers) or third-party sponsors to provide on-call curtailment of electric consumption during peak demand periods in return for incentive payments. Incentives are based on verified demand savings that participating customers achieve in response to called interruptions.
EPE will begin accepting applications for the upcoming 2010 Load Management Program on January 25, 2010.
Financial Benefits to Participating Customers
El Paso Electric will pay a participating customer (or the third-party Project Sponsor, if different) $60 per kW of verified curtailed load each year of participation. For example, a Project Sponsor who contracts for 1,000 kW and consistently curtails 1,000 kW or more when asked would earn up to $60,000* (see note below).
Program Details
The Load Management Program is designed to reduce electric demand or kW during EPE's peak demand periods, as necessary. This program is performance-based and offers incentive payments to Customers for curtailing electric load upon notice. Customers enter into an agreement with EPE to reduce their load by an agreed-upon amount during curtailments.
- Program runs from June 1st through September 30th.
- Peak demand periods are defined as weekdays from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
- Customers agree, if called upon, to reduce their load for up to five (5) continuous hours during curtailments.
- Customers may be called upon up to nine times per year, plus a test curtailment of one to five hours to verify load availability.
Eligible Participants
- Customer must be a non-residential EPE customer taking service at the distribution level.
- Customer must be equipped with an EPE Interval Data Recorder (IDR) meter or an EPE meter capable of recording demand intervals.
- Customer must be capable of curtailing a minimum of 100 kW during the summer peak periods at each contracted site.
- Customers who are currently on EPE's Interruptible Rate Tariff(s), have contracted rates or are taking service at 69 KV or greater are not eligible for this program.
Participation
Participation is a Five-Step Process described in detail in the Program Manual which can be downloaded via the left menu bar by clicking on Downloads/Tools. The five steps are as follows:
- Application Submission and Approval: January 25th - May 31st
- Contracting: January 25th - May 31st
- Performance Period: June 1st - September 30th
- Monitoring and Verification: June 1st - October 31st
- Payment of Incentives: November
Customer Commitments
Participating customers agree to a one-year commitment, but there are no penalties if customers opt out of the program at an earlier time. By its participation, the commercial/institutional customer commits to a maximum of 10 curtailments each year as follows:
- One (1) Scheduled Curtailment of one to five-hour's duration during each year of participation, plus a maximum of nine (9) Unscheduled Curtailments of up to five hours each during the peak demand period.
- The peak demand period is limited to weekdays from June 1 through September 30, 1-7 PM, excluding Federal holidays.
For More Information
To access the Application package and sample contract, please see the complete Program Manual. For answers to specific questions about your facility, contact Susanne Stone at 915-543-2272, or by e-mail at sstone@epelectric.com.
*NOTE: PAYMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO EL PASO ELECTRIC VERIFICATION. INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGES IN THE RULES OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS (PUCT).