The grant funding will accelerate California’s progress toward the state’s 100% renewable energy goal and help address severe resource adequacy constraints.

The initiative will play a key role in proving the importance of multi-DER control and optimization. Because EVs, thermostats, and batteries have different demand characteristics, enrolling two or more kinds of DERs in a VPP enables improved load-shaping capabilities. This will help deliver a reliable, increasingly decarbonized grid in California, and accelerate the CEC’s progress toward 100% renewable power in the state. Additionally, the grant expands the opportunity for California residents to enroll connected devices in VPPs, even if their utility does not offer such programs. 

The $1.5 million program, which began June 6th, will enroll up to 7,000 new thermostats, EVs, EV chargers, and batteries with a focus on low- and moderate-income customers. Device owners can either participate via their electric utility, if a program is offered, or enroll directly with EnergyHub if a utility program is unavailable. EnergyHub’s distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) will be used to aggregate enrolled devices into VPPs, which can then be bid into the CAISO market through EnergyHub’s partnership with Leap.

“This grant makes it possible for more Californians to realize the full benefits of DERs, expanding access to participation in VPPs” said Angela Kent, Manager, Regulatory Affairs, at EnergyHub. “By enabling multi-DER control and optimization, EnergyHub will help accelerate California’s achievement of its climate goals while improving grid reliability and sharing the financial benefits with electricity consumers.”