Third-party demand response programs for commercial customers

Under Electric Rule 24, PG&E electricity customers have the choice to enroll in demand response programs offered by third-party Demand Response Providers (DRPs). Demand response programs, in general, are programs that provide customers with incentives to reduce their electricity consumption during times of peak demand. Rule 24 allows third-party DRPs to solicit PG&E customers to participate in their demand response programs and to then “bid in” the electricity reduction into the wholesale electricity market administered by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). The California Public Utilities Commission approved Electric Rule 24 with the goal of promoting demand response participation in CAISO markets.

Third-party entities, not PG&E, manage the demand response programs offered by third-party DRPs. Questions pertaining to particular demand response programs or services offered by third-party DRPs should be directed to the relevant DRP, not to PG&E. If you are not sure which DRP to contact, please refer to the marketing and communication materials that you may have received from the DRP(s). Or, view the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)’s list of registered DRPs.

In order for a third-party entity to provide you with demand response service, you must first authorize PG&E to release your usage data and certain account information to the third-party DRP. Click here to view the full terms and conditions for sharing your data with a third-party DRP.

There are two ways to authorize PG&E to share your personal electricity-related information with a DRP: (1) Use the online authorization process; or (2) complete PG&E's Customer Information Service Request-Demand Response Provider (CISR-DRP) form.

Online authorization process

There are two options to authorize the release of your information using online methods.

Option 1: If you have a PG&E online account, follow these steps:

1. Select a link on a DRP's website that goes to your PG&E Share My Data login page.
2. Sign in with your PG&E online account username and password.
   
   
   
   
3. A screen will appear that lists the DRP(s) requesting access to your data, the various categories of data to be shared, the electric service accounts for which data is to be shared, and the duration or timeframe of the data sharing that the DRP(s) requested.
4. Select the SUBMIT button to complete the authorization process. After selecting SUBMIT, you’ll be returned to the DRP’s website.

Example of the online authorization screen:

Option 2: If you do not have a PG&E online account or forgot your login credentials, follow the steps for Guest Access:

1. Select a link on a DRP's website that goes to your PG&E Share My Data login page.
2. Select the GUEST ACCESS tab.
3. Enter (1) the 11-digit Account Number from your PG&E electricity bill and (2) the Phone Number on file with PG&E that is associated with your PG&E electric account.
   
   
   
   
4. A screen will appear that identifies the DRP(s) requesting access to your data, the various categories of data to be shared, the electric service accounts for which data is to be shared, and the duration or timeframe of the data sharing that the DRP(s) requested.
5. Be sure to enter your email address at the bottom of the authorization screen. This is a required field.
6. Select the SUBMIT button to complete the authorization process. After selecting SUBMIT, you'll be returned to the DRP's website.

Example of the online authorization screen:

CISR-DRP form

Instead of using the online process, you may complete and sign PG&E's Customer Information Service Request-Demand Response Provider (CISR-DRP) form. The third-party DRP submits the completed CISR-DRP form to PG&E, and once we validate and process the form, the requested customer information is released to the third party DRP.

PG&E's role in implementing Rule 24 includes the following activities:

• Processing authorization requests from customers via the online process or the CISR-DRP form, and releasing customer data to the designated DRPs.
• Checking whether a customer is already participating in a PG&E demand response program. Under Rule 24, customers are not allowed to participate in a PG&E demand response program and a third-party DRP program during the same period.
• Reprogramming your meter, if necessary, to reflect a shorter interval length so that the third-party DRP can include your service account in its wholesale electric market product.