Grid optimization—a fairly new term that you might be unfamiliar with—includes three major components: demand response, the management of distributed energy resources, and the implementation of non-wire alternative programs. Franklin Energy is working hard to evolve with the changing needs of utilities and end-use customers by developing innovative programs and products. We are breaking down silos within the industry and integrating new technologies, focusing more than ever on providing grid optimization services for our clients. Let’s take a deeper dive into each element to get a better feel for our vision of the future of our industry.

Your commercial and industrial customers already know about managing their energy use. But the next frontier is managing their power use.

The On Demand Savings (ODS) Program is designed to motivate commercial and industrial (C&I) customers to better understand and manage their HVAC kilowatt usage and costs during peak summertime demand.

Imagine if simple programming changes to your commercial and industrial (C&I) customers’ HVAC systems could reduce their summertime on-peak energy demand by an average of 21 percent.

In a race to achieve the highest reductions of energy consumption, everyone wins. In the United States, Michigan is poised to be a frontrunner in that race. Their demand response initiatives designed to reduce energy consumption in homes and businesses are set up to thrive in the upcoming years. So, just like runners look to their role models and fellow competitors for tips and tricks, what can we learn from Michigan’s efficiency success?

In Canada, climate change is more than buzzword. Learning how to adapt to a harsh and varied climate has spurred the nation to pay close attention to climate change issues. So it’s no surprise that the country has been a committed participant in recent global initiatives designed to keep climate change from further reducing the finite amount of energy available for our collective use—and creating new, renewable sources of energy for the future.