Notification takes place a day in advance (mid-afternoon) of an anticipated need for energy reduction with participants being contacted via phone, fax, e-mail, pager etc. (notification by ECS to customer).  Once this notice is received, the participant will typically prepare for reducing their electric use on the following day. This may involve shifting production schedules (if manufacturer/industrial), notifying staff, walking through to identify lighting and HVAC shut downs/reductions, etc.

Long before a call for a reduction is ever made, ECS will provide the participant with insight as to what loads they have at the facility which yield the most reduction. ECS will also provide a demand response audit at the facility as needed or requested by the participant.

WAYS TO CURTAIL YOUR ELECTRICITY USAGE:

Demand Reduction Measure	Preparation	Implementation
Run On-Site Generators, if Available	Make sure on-site generator(s) are fully fueled & interconnected to as much load as practicable	Beginning 15 minutes before the Event, start the generator(s) and keep running at desired capacity for the duration of the Event.
Shut Down Manufacturing Processes, as Practicable	Determine which equipment & processes you can shut down for 1 to 4 hours upon a day-ahead notice. Make sure equipment operators are aware of what to do when an Event call takes place.	Shut down any and all equipment & processes as feasible for the period of the Event. Shift employees to other tasks or switch the time of their lunch break to coincide with an Event.
Raise The Thermostat  Setting By  6° F (Summer Period)	Determine how temperatures are controlled at the site. Consider announcing a relaxed dress code for days that an Event is anticipated.	Run the HVAC at a much higher level (ie. cooler) for 2-3 hours before event.  If an energy-management system is available, reprogram it to change the set point during a declared Event. Otherwise manually adjust wall mounted thermostats throughout facility.
Turn Off 50% Of The Lights	Label switches that are to be turned off during Events. Identify all areas where lighting can be reduced (in some areas, you may be able to reduce 75%-100% & in others only 25%).	At the beginning of an Event turn off half the lights in the office areas and anywhere else lighting can be reduced without disruption of normal activities.
Turn Off Lights By Windows	Label switches for lights near windows that are to be turned off during an Event.	At the beginning of an event, switch off the lights near the windows.
Reduce Chiller Capacity (Summer Period)	Investigate options for running chiller(s) at a reduced capacity. Various modes of reduction are available. Use energy management systems, if available.	Reduce chiller capacity 25% to 50% during an event or shut down completely if possible.
Reduce Air Handler Airflow	Confirm that air-handler can be run at a reduced speed. Use energy management system (if available) to reduce motor speed. If the air-handler is at constant speed but has multiple-speed taps in the motor, a control relay can be used to shift to low speed.	Reduce airflow by 10%-20% during an Event.
Take 50% Of Elevators Off Duty	Consult life - saving code for buildings with special health/safety requirements.	Manually turn off no more than one out of every two elevators for the duration of an event. Place "Out Of Service" signs on each floor.
Reduce Exhaust And Outdoor Air Ventilation	Determine how outdoor air dampers are controlled. Identify any that should NOT be turned off. Consider mitigating effects by increasing outdoor air ventilation slightly during the time before an Event.	Reduce outdoor air intake during a declared event. Turn off fans that serve bathrooms, janitor's closets, conference rooms, and all other non-critical spaces. DO NOT turn off exhausts or other fans that exhaust harmful contaminants.
Kitchen Ovens / Dish Washer	None	At time of Event, turn off all ovens, dishwashers & laundry facilities
Turn Off Water Coolers/Heaters	Identify locations of water coolers/heaters and label them so they are not turned back on.	Unplug or shut off units during a declared event.