What is the Business Energy Coalition?
The Business Energy Coalition (BEC) developed and implemented effective energy-curtailment strategies for a collective of businesses during periods of high demand. In operation from 2005-2009, the BEC was a multi-year demand response demonstration project partnering Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) with local business and civic leaders.
Under the leadership of The Energy Coalition, the BEC was designed to address the specific business challenges regarding energy reduction during critical peak hours. This collaborative approach afforded all members a high level of interactivity and participation.
Business accounts for 35% of California’s peak energy use. Energy curtailment programs, such as the BEC, are key to proactively managing energy use during times of critical peak demand and seasonal power emergencies. Responding effectively to peak demand periods promotes energy reliability and reduces the risk of brown outs and black outs. BEC companies included major players in property management, finance, healthcare, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing sectors.
Who are the Partners?
The partners were Pacific Gas & Electric, The Energy Coalition and over 35 commercial, agricultural, government, hospitality, healthcare and financial institutions working collaboratively to reduce electric load.
What are the Outcomes?
In 2005, the TEC enrolled 32 PG&E customers who agreed to deliver, as a group, 10 megawatts (MW) of electrical load reduction during peak hours. These charter members easily surpassed their group goal. In 2006, the group was expanded to include an additional 30+ new members, who delivered more than 15 MW of peak reduction. Ultimately the BEC enrolled over 130 members delivering up to 50 MW of demand response electrical reduction capacity by the summer of 2008.
TEC Leadership
TEC was the managing partner of this project responsible for designing, implementing, enrolling businesses, managing the project and evaluating outcomes. TEC provided the individual support to building managers and acted as the liaison between the businesses and the serving utility.
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