Customers with at least 100 KW of usage that can be reduced during peak hours of the year are eligible for Virtual Energy's Special Case Resources (SCR) program. Here's how it works:
Participating customers are paid for temporarily reducing their electricity usage during times when statewide generation is at its highest. These times are referred to as "Events."
Participating customers are also paid for being ready to reduce electric usage across a 6-month period. This is paid through the unforced capacity, or "UCAP," market.
Requirements for participation:
Hourly interval meter or electronic meter reading device, which can be installed after signing up
Commitment to reducing usage by the predetermined amount when called upon
Importance of the SCR Program and how it works:
Rather than satisfying increasing electricity demands during peak hours by building generation facilities, it is more cost-effective to provide an incentive to customers to reduce their electricity needs during peak hours. By curtailing electricity consumption during peak load times, you allow your unused power to become available to the New York State electrical grid during those times when it is needed the most. A company can curtail its usage from the electrical grid by either shutting down energy-consuming equipment and machinery or by running an on-site electrical generator. Participants are paid for performing these tasks when events are called (usually once or twice a year) and also for being willing to do this throughout the year. The program usually requires minimal effort on the participant's part and leads to huge operational efficiency and reliability for the New York State electrical grid.
Virtual Energy's role in the SCR Program
Virtual Energy, an affiliate of U.S. Energy Partners, is an approved Responsible Interface Party (RIP) for the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). RIPs are the only market-participating entities allowed to interface with the NYISO on a SCR customer's behalf. As a RIP, we will work with you to establish an hourly metering program, identify ways to curtail your energy consumption, run tests to measure the success of consumption reduction, bid into the UCAP auction on your behalf, and notify you in advance when Events are called.
UCAP and the SCR Program
UCAP stands for "Unforced Capacity," and SCR participants are notified to curtail this capacity either through the use of on-site generation and/or reducing electricity consumption during times when the electric grid could be jeopardized because of high statewide electric usage.
Evaluating Curtailment Needs
Once an electronic hourly metering device and/or an hourly interval meter has been put into place, Virtual Energy will work with you to identify reduction opportunities and will test your reduction attempts to accurately assess your curtailing potential.
If you are interested in joining the program or receiving more information about the program, please call us at (716) 631-1517, or write to us at the following:
8205 Main Street, Suite 11
Buffalo, New York 14221
(716) 631-1517 Office
(716) 631-1519 Fax
