Buffalo, NY, Aug. 19- At a time when Buffalo's economy is on the decline and energy costs continue to rise, one local company with a typically national marketplace is offering a solution specifically tailored to Western New York businesses.  Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. (ECS), the largest privately held demand response provider in the country and headquartered in Buffalo, is allocating $5 million to local businesses as part of their effort to fund demand response initiatives of larger WNY electricity end-users, make Buffalo a "greener" city, and boost the economy.

ECS is encouraging businesses in WNY to join their Demand Response program, an energy conservation program that pays participants for their efforts in energy reduction during times of high electric demand, to take advantage of the dollars available.

"Being a Buffalo-based company and understanding the current rough patch in our economy, we are very excited to offer area businesses the opportunity to reap the benefits of Demand Response," said Glen Smith, Buffalo native and co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of ECS.  "It's great to be able to spark the economy and put Western New York in the national spotlight for something positive."

Buffalo, NY, Aug. 19- At a time when Buffalo's economy is on the decline and energy costs continue to rise, one local company with a typically national marketplace is offering a solution specifically tailored to Western New York businesses.  Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. (ECS), the largest privately held demand response provider in the country and headquartered in Buffalo, is allocating $5 million to local businesses as part of their effort to fund demand response initiatives of larger WNY electricity end-users, make Buffalo a "greener" city, and boost the economy.

ECS is encouraging businesses in WNY to join their Demand Response program, an energy conservation program that pays participants for their efforts in energy reduction during times of high electric demand, to take advantage of the dollars available.

"Being a Buffalo-based company and understanding the current rough patch in our economy, we are very excited to offer area businesses the opportunity to reap the benefits of Demand Response," said Glen Smith, Buffalo native and co-founder, president, and chief executive officer of ECS.  "It's great to be able to spark the economy and put Western New York in the national spotlight for something positive."

Demand Response is a risk-free, no-cost program designed for larger energy users in WNY. This typically includes industrial, educational, health care, hotels, large retail and commercial facilities. At times when the electric grid is unstable, which only occurs once or twice a year on average, ECS will call on Demand Response participants to cut back their electricity usage for a short period of time to relieve the stress on the grid.  Not only will customers save money on their monthly electric bills, but they will also receive direct payments from ECS.  "We have essentially equated the ability of a larger electricity user to shift its demand for electricity a couple times a year from high peak to off peak periods to a power plant supplying power to the grid," said Smith, adding "it is a simple recognition that reducing demand in these grid-tenuous times is as good, if not better, than simply adding more supply to what is already an over-extended transmission infrastructure."

ECS anticipates positive feedback from local businesses and plans to add an extra $5 million to the more than $50 million they have paid out in the past five years to its participants across the country.

"We have been participating in a program similar to Demand Response for a number of years and are proud of the success we have had in reducing our electricity consumption through the years," said Jim Mills, director of engineering and safety of Allied Frozen Foods, located on Broadway Avenue in Buffalo.  "ECS is a great local company with a knowledgeable and friendly team, making our participation in demand response extremely easy."