Demand Response—Event Day Action Plan

• Print Page
• Email Page

The Event Day Action Plan template is a tool to help chief engineers and facility staff create a step-by-step customized action plan for your facility to use during a curtailment event. The template includes examples of demand response strategies you can consider as part of your plan to reduce energy consumption during these curtailment events. We hope this will help to maximize your participation during such events.Event Day Action Plan Template (PDF, 156 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the purpose of the Event Day Action Plan?
  The template is designed to assist chief engineers and their staff in creating an action plan of demand response (DR) measures to implement on program event days. This Action Plan can serve as a reference of instructions or as a step-by-step protocol for the facility on event days. On the reverse side of the template are sample demand reduction strategies for your business that can be considered in identifying the particular DR measures to implement during program events. Distribute to staff and keep a copy of the completed Event Day Action Plan somewhere accessible or easy-to-find by staff involved.
• How often do I fill out the Event Day Action Plan?
  Create your plan at the start of the demand response program season. Revisit this plan after each event to fine-tune your activities and after any major facility related change that could affect the event day steps you take to reduce your energy consumption.
• Who should have access to the Event Day Action Plan?
  Anyone involved in facility operations or involved in the identified energy reduction activities such as a building engineer or facility manager should have access to the Event Day Action Plan. Tips on how employees and or tenants can contribute to the energy reduction goals of the facility on an Event Day could be posted to internal Web site as well.

Keep the following email templates handy. The email text provided below may be used to inform employees and tenants in your building about your participation in PG&E's Demand Response programs and ways they can contribute during event days.

Sample Email Templates

• What should be communicated to building tenants or employees about program participation?
  Email to employees or tenants announcing program participation
  
  Hello (organization name) tenants or employees,
  
  We are proud to announce that (organization name) is participating in PG&E's (program name} Demand Response program. The goal is to cut electric consumption locally and in the State during times of peak energy demand to ensure electric system reliability and decrease the probability and environmental impact of building new power plants to meet this infrequent peak demand.
  
  Here’s how the program works. As a (program name} participant, we will receive program event notifications, up to a day ahead, and will reduce energy consumption throughout the building. Event days are triggered by power system constraints such as the following:

  • California Independent System Operator (CAISO) calls a statewide Stage 2 or 3 emergency
  • PG&E declares a localized system emergency
  • CAISO’s total forecasted load is greater than 43,000 megawatts
  • High forecasted temperatures

  
  As participants in this energy conservation program, we have made a commitment to doing our part to ensure a stable and reliable energy system in California. As building occupants, you have an opportunity to make a difference locally and for our state by taking the following suggested actions:

  Turn off all lighting not necessary for safety or productivity. Use natural lighting and supplement it with task lighting if at all possible.
  • Turn off office equipment, computers, printers and other electrical equipment that is not required for your productivity today.
  • Consider using a central copier, and turn off infrequently used copiers for the remainder of the day.
  • Turn off coffee makers when not in use.

  
  Thank you for your support and cooperation. We will keep you informed of the program's success. Should you have any questions, please contact _________________ @ ______.
  
  Thank you,
• What should be communicated to building tenants or employees about event days?
  Day of curtailment - Building occupant email
  
  Hello (organization name) tenants or employees,
  
  Today is a (program name} event day, due to (trigger information can be listed). As part of our participation (program name}, we will be reducing the building’s energy consumption between the requested hours of (2pm-6pm).
  
  As participants in this energy conservation program, we have made a commitment to doing our part to ensure a stable and reliable energy system in California. As building occupants, you have an opportunity to make a difference by taking the following suggested actions:

  • Turn off all lighting not necessary for safety or productivity. Use natural lighting and supplement it with task lighting if at all possible.
  • Turn off office equipment, computers, printers and other electrical equipment that is not required for your productivity today.
  • Consider using a central copier, and turn off infrequently used copiers for the remainder of the day.
  • Turn off coffee makers when not in use.

  
  Thank you for your support and cooperation. We will keep you informed of the results of our efforts. Should you have any questions, please contact __________________ @ _______.
  
  Thank you,