Peak Perks Program Reaches Milestone Enrollment
January 16, 2025
More than 200,000 Ontario residents have now enrolled in the Save on Energy Peak Perks program, a residential demand response initiative of the IESO that contributes to the reliability of the electricity grid by reducing peak demand on hot summer days.
Participants in Peak Perks help the grid with their smart thermostats by participating in brief, time-limited thermostat adjustments during the summer months. Participants receive a $75 virtual prepaid Mastercard when they enroll in Peak Perks. They also receive a $20 virtual prepaid Mastercard each additional year they stay enrolled in the program.
During summer 2024, Peak Perks was activated on nine occasions, achieving an estimated maximum one-hour peak demand reduction of 187 MW. With more than 200,000 Ontario residents now enrolled, the program is expected to deliver more than 200 MW of peak demand reduction for summer 2025.
The program was recently expanded to include small businesses as well as residents with smart thermostats and central air conditioning or a heat pump and is a flagship program under the IESO’s 12-year electricity Demand Side Management framework, which was announced earlier this month.