EnerNOC's DemandSMART demand response network was dispatched on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, to address a capacity shortage in New England. The region’s Independent System Operator, ISO New England, called on more than 1300 of EnerNOC’s customer sites, from southwest Connecticut to northeast Maine, and commercial, institutional, and industrial customers from all 19 ISO New England dispatch zones contributed to the dispatch. As New England temperatures dropped to the single digits, demand response helped to provide power used for heating and other purposes throughout the region.

“During Monday’s dispatch, our customers demonstrated the real value that an engaged energy user can bring to the grid—not just during the summer, but throughout the year. The demand reduction they delivered helped to keep the lights on and ensure that local homes, businesses, and public facilities had heat on a cold morning,” said Micah Remley, vice president of operations, EnerNOC. “EnerNOC works with thousands of sites to provide demand response and has built the automation and network infrastructure to deliver resources quickly and efficiently when they’re needed.”

Among the more than 1300 sites dispatched, Sugarbush Resort contributed by temporarily shifting snowmaking activities at its Warren, Vermont facilities. “Demand response benefits both our community and the environment,” said Win Smith, president of Sugarbush Resort. "We can temporarily shut down our snowmaking operations during an emergency without affecting our product or customer experience, and this can prevent a blackout when there is a problem on the grid."