Lower Your Business Energy Costs
Demand Response (DR) programs for business reward organizations for reducing or shifting their electricity use when demand for electricity is high, typically during the summer. Participation in one or more DR programs not only promotes business savings but also helps reduce strain on the electrical supply, while maintaining safe and reliable power for your business and the communities you serve.
Our Demand Response Programs for Business
We offer a variety of DR programs to fit the savings and operational needs of your business. Enroll your accounts in the program of your choice, then simply participate in DR events to start saving.
Agricultural and Pumping Interruptible (AP-I) Program
Receive monthly bill credits year-round for allowing us to temporarily interrupt electric service to your pumping equipment during AP-I events.
How It Works
A control device is installed near your meter or pumping equipment to control the total load served. When the grid is experiencing high demand, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) notifies us that energy use must be reduced. We then transmit a signal to the device that automatically turns off electricity until critical demand—or the occasional test—has ended.
Base Interruptible Program (BIP)
Recommended for businesses with operational flexibility, BIP rewards you with monthly bill credits year-round for reducing energy use during a BIP event, even when no interruptions occur.
How It Works
You choose how much energy you need to stay up and running and we’ll provide advance notice of an impending power interruption, according to your preference. When a BIP event is initiated, we notify your designated contacts via email, phone, and/or text (SMS) that a period of interruption has begun. Events are limited to 1 per day, 10 per calendar month, and up to 6 hours each for a maximum of 180 hours per calendar year. Depending on your level of energy reduction, you’ll receive bill credits as compensation.
Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP)
Earn bill credits for reducing energy use during ELRP events. The program is completely voluntary and there are no penalties if you do not participate.
How It Works
Your business submits a one-time kW-reduction bid at the time of enrollment. When the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) issues an alert, warning, or emergency, we notify participants of an impending ELRP event and the need for a power reduction. Notice of an ELRP event may be delivered the day before an event, or in the in case of emergency the same day a reduction is needed. Event hours are between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., any day of the week, including holidays, between May 1 and October 31 and last a minimum of one hour to a maximum of five hours. Participants earn $2 per kWh or $2,000 per MWh reduced during an event.
Why Participate in Demand Response?
The cleanest, most sustainable energy is the energy we never use. By reducing energy use during critical times you’re doing much more than saving money for your business. You’re helping to ensure that power stays on for everyone, particularly during emergencies, making a real difference for your employees and customers.
Additional Demand Response Programs for Businesses
Your business can enjoy savings and flexibility through the Automated Demand Response (Auto-DR) program. By installing technologies that automatically reduce energy usage during demand response events, you will not only qualify for technology incentives, but you may also start seeing bill savings.
To learn more and find out how you can apply to participate in the Auto-DR program, please visit our Automated Demand Response page.
Through this internet-based program, your business can earn payments for agreeing to reduce your energy use during Capacity Bidding Program (CPB) events, which helps ease the stress on the electrical grid when resources become constrained.
How It Works
Your business can participate by making monthly nominations (also known as “bids”), to reduce your energy load and be compensated with payments based on your actual energy reduction when a Capacity Bidding Program event is called. This program is designed to offer you the flexibility to adjust your bid and your participation preferences every month. You may select to be notified the day before an event or on the day of the event. You’ll never be required to reduce your load by more than 30 hours in any month.
Ready to apply?
Select a CBP Aggregator or learn how to become an aggregator for your own service accounts. For more information, contact your SCE Account Manager or call the Demand Response Help Desk at 1-866-334-7827. For complete terms and conditions for the Capacity Bidding Program, see our Tariff sheet.
CPP is an optional rate that provides four months of summer season bill credits in exchange for paying higher electricity prices during 12 to 15 annual CPP events.
When called, CPP events are from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. on any day of the week, usually occurring on the hottest summer days. By reducing electricity use during CPP events, you can minimize these higher prices. Plus, your business will earn credits on your electricity bills during the summer season when your bills are typically the highest.
For the first 12 months your business is enrolled in this rate, we provide bill protection—you won’t pay more than you would have paid on your previous rate Contact our Demand Response Help desk at 1-800-990-7788.
Your energy usage during CPP Event Days will be charged at a higher rate for the duration of the events, as outlined in the tariff. SCE may, at its discretion, call a CPP Event any day of the week, CPP Events will be called based on any one of the following criteria:
- California Independent System Operator (CAISO) Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Watch, EEA-1, or EEA-2 Notice
- Forecasts of SCE system emergencies – may be declared at the generation, transmission, or distribution circuit level
- Forecasts of extreme or unusual temperature conditions impacting system demand
- Day-ahead load and/or price forecasts
For more information about CPP, go to sce.com/CPP.
Success Stories
Ready to Apply?
If you would like to enroll in CPP, contact your SCE Account Representative, visit sce.com/ratetool; or call 1-800-990-7788.
If your business can commit to reducing energy use by 15% on your entire circuit during every rotating outage, you may be eligible for a rotating outage exemption through the Optional Binding Mandatory Curtailment program.
Ready to Apply?
To participate and file a plan, contact your SCE Account Representative or call the Demand Response Help desk at (866) 334-7827.
For the complete terms and conditions for the Optional Binding Mandatory Curtailment Program, see our Tariff sheet.
This program is designed to benefit your business if you have flexibility to shift or reduce energy usage to times when temperatures are lower. Real-Time Pricing sets rates according to season, time of day, and temperature, so you’ll be able to significantly reduce your costs by irrigating and pumping during off-peak hours. Temperature monitoring is the key to achieving the benefits of this program.
How It Works
We set rates for this program according to time of year, time of day, and temperature data recorded the previous day in downtown Los Angeles by the National Weather Service. Hourly prices tend to be highest during the hottest part of the day during the summer season (June 1 until October 1), while hourly prices tend to be lower during the winter season (October 1 until June 1).
Ready to Apply?
To get started, contact your SCE Account Representative or call the Demand Response Help desk at (800) 334-7827.
If your business has flexibility around its operations schedule, you may want to consider the Real-Time Pricing rate schedule. This rate is beneficial if you can reduce energy usage during hours with higher temperature-driven prices, and/or shift usage to lower-priced hours.
How It Works
With the exception of holidays, prices under this rate are set according to season, temperature, and time of day. Temperature-based rates are determined by the previous day’s high temperatures in downtown Los Angeles as recorded by the National Weather Service. You can sign up for RTP courtesy alert notifications so your business can plan its energy use and shift it accordingly to maximize savings.
Sign Up for Alerts Manage Your Alerts
Ready to Apply?
To get started, contact your SCE Account Representative or call the Demand Response Help desk at (866) 334-7827.
View our Real-Time Pricing fact sheet for more information, or for the complete terms and conditions, see our Tariff sheets below:
If you are a large business or industrial customer with the flexibility to reduce load for a few hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) in the summer months, this program could benefit your bottom line.
How It Works
When you participate in the Scheduled Load Reduction Program, you choose the timing of your load reduction among three options: 8 a.m.—12:00 p.m.; 12:00 p.m.—4 p.m.; or 4 p.m.—8 p.m. during summer weekdays, excluding holidays. You’ll receive credits on your bill for reducing your usage compared to the previous year, based on your program commitment.
Ready to Apply?
To get started, contact your SCE Account Representative or call the Demand Response Help Desk at (866) 334-7827.
For the complete terms and conditions for the Scheduled Load Reduction Program, see our Tariff sheet.
The Summer Discount Plan is a year-round, event-based program that allows SCE to turn or cycle off customers' air conditioners. In return, customers have the opportunity to earn bill credits on their summer season bills. Bill credits are based on the size of the air conditioner. Customers have three different options to choose from. Visit the website for further details.
How We Notify You
Our free Demand Response Alerts app ensures you’ll receive courtesy notifications about upcoming DR events straight to your smartphone. Visit our app-information page to sign up for alerts and never miss a savings opportunity.
Or download the free app directly.
You can also easily search past and current DR events with our online tool.
View DR Event Status and History
Demand Response Aggregators
The SCE Reference Guide for Demand Response Aggregators provides contact information and website links commonly used by aggregators participating in the following programs:
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ACES (Aliso Canyon Energy Storage)
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CBP (Capacity Bidding Program)
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LCR (Local Capacity Requirements)
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PRP (Preferred Resource Pilot)
Other Programs to Help You Save
The following third-parties also supply DR services to help you manage and lower business energy use.*
Easily participate in demand response using your smart thermostats, smart plugs, lighting, EVs, batteries, or any of your devices. Save energy and receive payments throughout the year with AutoGrid patented technology.
CPower Energy is the leading, national Distributed Energy Resource monetization and Virtual Power Plant provider, creating the Customer-Powered Grid™ that will enable a flexible, clean and dependable energy future. CPower operates and offers several demand response programs in the SCE utility territory including Capacity Bidding Program (CBP) and is a Resource Adequacy (RA) provider. Learn more about CPower’s SCE offerings.
Specializing in Demand Response aggregation and AutoDR, we work with restaurants, retailers, schools, cities and water operators, along with commercial and industrial customers of all sizes, to leverage every kW possible.
Leap makes it easy for smart energy technologies to generate revenue by supporting the grid. Our software platform provides fast, automated access to energy markets for the providers of smart thermostats, battery storage systems, electric vehicle chargers and other grid-interactive energy devices so they can participate in demand response and other grid services programs.
The ultimate win-win energy solution, demand response programs benefit all energy users. NRG Curtailment Solutions will work with your organization to recommend specific reduction strategies as well as provide real-time training and support so your facilities can maximize each program’s market benefits.
Join hundreds of thousands of Californians saving on their electric bill and actually getting paid to save energy, in as little as just one hour per week. OhmConnect will notify you when electricity prices spike in your neighborhood and if you can power down, you earn!
Shell Energy North America (US), L.P. is a Scheduling Coordinator (SC) and Demand Response Provider (DRP) in California. SENA provides services to large commercial and industrial customers to empower them to economically manage their own demand response programs or SENA can act of behalf of the customer as the provider.
Stem’s unique artificial intelligence for energy storage, Athena™, delivers the benefits of DR without disruption by automatically responding to events and shifting energy use away from the most expensive times. As a member of Stem’s LCR network, achieve real-time energy optimization with heavily discounted service rates, guaranteed cost savings, and no capital outlay.
Voltus is the leading distributed energy resource (DER) technology platform and virtual power plant operator. Voltus connects nearly 5 GW of DERs across commercial, industrial, residential, and transportation sectors to electricity markets, delivering less expensive, more reliable, and more sustainable electricity.
*SCE displays links to websites or electronic services sponsored by third parties. SCE is not responsible for the content or operation of third-party websites or electronic services reached by virtue of such links or content, and the presence of such links or content does not imply SCE endorses or is affiliated with such third-party websites, services, or third parties, or any services or products they offer. The third parties, and not SCE, are solely responsible for any advertisements, opinions, advice, statements, services, offers, data, information, content, or other materials that such third parties express or make available, including the description of third-party services on this SCE page.
Use of Circuit Breakers During DR Events
Since safety is SCE’s number one priority, SCE will never advise its customers to participate in Demand Response events by turning on and off electricity at their circuit breakers. Most residential circuit breakers are not designed to work as on/off switches during DR events, and improper and frequent use may lead to hazardous conditions or damage to your electronic equipment and appliances. SCE does not recommend this practice for Demand Response. If you do flip your circuit breaker on or off for any reason, SCE recommends you exercise the appropriate precautions, which include but are not limited to:
- Wearing and using protective gear to protect against arc flashing;
- Turning equipment off before turning the circuits back on to avoid damage or excessive wear;
- Checking with the panel manufacturer to confirm whether the panel is designed for this type of use; and
- Ensuring circuits do not support medical devices, smoke detectors, fire alarms, and other critical or safety-related equipment and devices.