How it Works
ECS’ PowerPay! Ontario program pays businesses to conserve electricity for a few hours, if the need arises.
PowerPay! Ontario helps Ontario Power Authority meet peak electric demand, replace polluting electricity sources with renewables and keep prices down.
1. Enrollment: If you want a face-to-face meeting, an ECS representative will come to your
location to explain the program, review your facility and estimate the payment to your
company. Alternatively, we can arrange a conference call to get started.
Eligibility requirements vary between regions; for an accurate estimate, contact an ECS
representative by calling 877-711-5453; or fill out the short Revenue $$$ Estimate form.
2. Metering: You need an interval meter at your facility. If you do not have one, an
interval meter will be installed on-site, free of charge. ECS will access your data for
for reduction verification.
3. Reduction Events: An Event can be called only on non-holiday weekdays. You may
only be called up to 100 hours annually.
4. Planning for a Reduction Event: You should put together a “Reduction Action Plan” that
outlines who in your company is responsible for making electric reductions in the instance that
an Event is called. Having a plan will ensure that you carry out your reductions in an orderly
manner with the full cooperation of your employees. ECS can help you set up your plan.
Potential reduction strategies include shutting off equipment or processes, pumps and fans,
turning off lighting, easing back on or shutting off air conditioning and, if applicable, utilizing
a generator. If you have an energy management system, reductions can be made from a
central location.
5. Notice of a Reduction Event: When an Event is called, the individuals identified as Event
contacts at your company will be notified by email, phone, text and/or fax. This notice is
provided approximately 5 hours ahead of time, giving you enough of a "heads up" to prepare
for the Event.
When your Event contacts receive notice, they will implement your Reduction Action Plan,
going down the list of who in your company needs to be aware of the Event and what
reduction strategies are to be implemented.
6. During a Reduction Event: Your facility should have all reductions in effect 10 minutes
before the start of the Event. Make sure that staff is aware of this event and does not turn
anything on or up that should remain off or reduced. If you have questions during the Event,
contact ECS.
7. After the Reduction Event: You should maintain reductions until 5 minutes after the end of
the Event. At this point in time, you may return to your usual state of electric consumption.
8. Performance: Your performance is determined by how much you reduce your electric demand
from your customer baseline.
Your actual performance is compared to your kW commitment.
9. Payment: Your company will earn payment via a cheque for performing to your committed
level of electric reduction during Events:
Participation Payment = fixed rate or percentage of auction price per kW committed
Event Payment = typically $0.15 - $0.18/kWh reduced during an Event
