Program aggregates residential loads in PECO, unlocking additional capacity for the electric grid and providing savings for more Pennsylvania consumers.
Voltus, the leading distributed energy resource technology platform and virtual power plant (VPP) operator, together with Resideo Grid Services, a leader in demand response aggregation and program management, have expanded their residential demand response program and VPP to the PECO region of PJM. The program allows customers with Honeywell Home, ecobee and other qualifying smart thermostats across southeastern Pennsylvania to offset electricity costs by curtailing energy usage when the electric grid needs relief.
Since launching their partnership in Pennsylvania (PPL) in 2022, Resideo and Voltus have expanded across three utility zones in PJM – PPL, ComEd and now PECO – as well as PSEG Long Island in NYISO. In addition to capacity programs, qualified thermostats will now be enrolled in PJM’s real-time economic demand response program, providing even more value to consumers and more load flexibility to the grid at greater frequency.
PJM’s record-high capacity auction last summer underscored the need for additional sources of capacity to meet growing demand within the largest wholesale electricity market in the United States. In its January 2025 PJM Long-Term Load Forecast Report, PJM predicted a nearly 35% increase in summer peak load by 2034. Meanwhile, 58 GW of legacy power plants face retirement by 2030, exacerbating supply constraints. The Department of Energy estimates that VPPs have the potential to help meet 10-20% of peak demand nationwide.
“It’s become clear that there’s a need for additional energy sources, as highlighted by last summer’s capacity auction,” said Dave Oberholzer, General Manager of Resideo Grid Services. “Traditional generation is insufficient in the current load growth environment, and our partnership with Voltus offers an additional, emissions-free solution by leveraging previously untapped residential resources.”
“The need for additional resources in PJM reflects the supply constraints we’re beginning to witness across North America, driven by increased electrification and data center expansion. VPPs are a timely and economic solution,” said Marissa Galizia, Senior Sales Director, Product Partnerships at Voltus. “We’re proud to not only continue to unlock this residential resource across new geographic regions, but to also increasingly leverage the resource through real-time participation in PJM’s wholesale market.”
For more information on demand response programs and eligible products, visit ConnectedSavings.com.
