Video

Traditional demand response (DR) programs reach utility customers willing to enroll and receive incentive for participation, this is a fraction of U.S. households with smart thermostats/technology. Evergy's Grid Resiliency program changes this by dispatching all connected ecobee thermostats during peak demand hours, while preserving customer control through an opt-out approach. By making slight adjustments, the Midwestern utility can maintain customer comfort while also stabilizing the grid.

Importantly, grid resiliency serves as a powerful gateway to engage more customers in demand response. By giving households visibility into how small, collective actions can have a meaningful impact on their community’s energy stability, utilities can foster broader participation and awareness even among those who may not have previously considered DR programs.

During Evergy’s first Grid Resiliency event, the utility saw 23 MW peak load reduction, 15,000+ participating thermostats across Missouri and Kansas, and a 31% increase in dispatchable capacity.

Watch the webinar with Evergy, ecobee, and Uplight to learn:

• How your utility can implement a similar program to unlock capacity when the grid needs it most
• Best practices for keeping customers informed, comfortable, and satisfied during events
• Lessons learned from Evergy’s first Grid Resiliency season