Flexible Load Program

VEC offers an incentive to members willing to allow VEC to use their home battery a limited number of times per year when we are anticipating peak demand. Participants receive a monthly bill credit, or they can opt for an upfront payment and lower monthly bill credit. Starting for batteries installed 10/1/25 and later, participating members’ compensation will be based on several values and the equation listed below:

Relevant Values

• Battery Energy (kWh) – This is the total kWh in the battery. The minimum Battery Energy to participate is 10 kWh.
• Battery Reserve (%) – The percentage of Battery Energy that a member chooses to keep in reserve and not use for Peak Events.
• Battery Inverter Capacity (kW) – The output capacity of the battery inverter must exceed the kWh from the compensation equation below and be at least 2 kW.
• Peak Event Duration (Hours) – VEC requires the battery to provide 4 hours of energy for a Peak Event
• Monthly Peak Event Value ($) – VEC reserves the right to update this value annually. It is currently valued at $6.40 per month.
• Upfront Peak Event Value ($) - VEC reserves the right to update this value annually. It is currently valued at $268.

Participating members can select either the Monthly Incentive or the Upfront Payment and Lower Monthly Incentive.

1. Monthly incentive = [Monthly Peak Value] X [kWh Capacity] X [1- Battery Reserve Percentage] / [4 Hours]

For example: [$6.40] x [27kWh] x [1 - .20%] / [4 hrs.] = $34.56 monthly credit

OR

2. Upfront Incentive = [Upfront Peak Event Value] X [kWh Capacity] X [1- Battery Reserve Percentage] / [4 Hours]

For example: [$268] x [27kWh] x [1 - .20%] / [4 hrs] = $1,447.20 upfront payment

AND

Lower Monthly incentive = ([Monthly Peak Value] X [kWh Capacity] X [1- Battery Reserve Percentage] / [4 hrs])/2

For example: ([$6.40] x [27kWh] x [1 - .20%] / [4 hrs])/2 = $17.28 monthly credit

This change was prompted by the shifting value of flexible load, program performance, and the increasing diversity of products in the marketplace. We expect to be able to enroll additional battery types in the near future and wanted to provide a consistent formula that accurately values the capacity being provided.

To get started please fill out the Home Battery Program enrollment form.

VEC offers level II EV chargers to members at no charge. 

To take advantage of this offer members must:

• Enroll their charger in a communications platform so that VEC can request that the charger not operate during peak events (five to six times per month for three to four hours each). You can opt out of individual events if needed. You will receive an $8/month incentive if you do not opt out of events.
• Enroll in VEC’s Beat the Peak Program to receive alerts during the summer (approximately three to four events) when VEC expects high demand for electricity. During these events, VEC requests that members voluntarily take steps to decrease their electric use, such as shutting lights off, turning up the thermostat, and delaying use of major appliances.

To request a charger, please fill out this form. To read the Member Participation Agreement, click here.

If you purchase your own level II charger, you can receive a $250 incentive if you either 1) set a schedule to not charger from 5-9pm Monday through Friday, or 2) if it is a ChargePoint or Emporia, enroll it in VEC's communications platform to receive another $50 upfront incentive and $8/month as long as you do not opt out of events. To receive the $250 incentive, complete and submit this form.

To enroll your Emporia charger after it's installed, follow the instructions at this link.

If you do not have a compatible level II charger and would like to participate in the Flexible Load Program, you may be able to enroll your vehicle directly. VEC would send a signal to your vehicle and request that it not charge when we are anticipating peak demand. These events last from 2-4 hours, and your vehicle will resume charging after the event. We will inform you when we're calling an event, and you can opt out if you need to charge during that time period. Participants receive a $100 one-time enrollment incentive and $8/month.

Here is a list of eligible vehicles:

Signing up is easy. Simply click on this link and enroll your vehicle. Once you're enrolled, you will receive a $50 bill credit and $8/month.

This program designed to help Commercial and Industrial (C&I) members reduce energy costs and support grid reliability.Participants earn bill credits by managing flexible electrical loads during peak demand periods,

Eligibility

Participation is voluntary and open to any VEC member who:

• Is current on all payments.
• Takes service under a commercial rate schedule.
• Is not enrolled in other VEC load management programs or billed under Service Classification #5.
• Agrees to share performance data (excluding proprietary info).
• Is willing to adjust facility operations to support load management.

How It Works

Participants enroll flexible assets—such as HVAC systems, refrigeration, water heating, industrial processes, or energy storage—that can respond to peak demand events. These assets are dispatched during Forward Capacity Market (FCM) and Regional Network Service (RNS) peak periods.

• Event Signals: Assets respond automatically to peak signals, often imperceptibly to building occupants.
• Override Option: Participants can override automated actions at any time.
• Baselining: Performance is measured against statistical baselines to determine load reduction.

Compensation

Participants choose between two compensation models:

1. All Hour Average Performance
   • Credits based on average kW reduction across all peak events in a month.
   • $5.00 per average kW reduced.
2. Single Hour Performance
   • Credits based on kW reduction during the single highest peak hour of the month.
   • $6.00 per average kW reduced.

All participants receive FCM bill credits based on performance during the ISO-NE annual peak hour.