Take control with the Peak Perks Custom Savings Program
- As part of Central Hudson Peak Perks, the Custom Savings Program is open to select customers residing in specific energy-constrained areas.
- The program is designed to financially reward customers who decrease energy use during peak times of energy use (“Conservation Events”) occurring from June 1 through September 30, between noon and 8 p.m., lasting up to four (4) hours (no weekends or federal holidays). Participants can expect approximately 2 or 3 events lasting up to 3 hours each per season.
- The more energy you save during Conservation Events, the bigger your potential financial reward.
How It Works
- Receive notification of a Conservation Event roughly 24 hours in advance.
- Receive a Confirmation of a Conservation Event at least 3 hours in advance with the start and end time for the event.
- During the Conservation Event, turn off any unneeded equipment and devices. The more turned off, the more your potential savings.
- Your energy savings will be calculated based on the difference between your energy use during the Conservation Event and what your usage load would have been if you took no action.
- After you enroll, you’ll receive a $25 sign-on reward as a gift card within 4-6 weeks.
- Annual rewards for each year of participation will be credited on your bill or through a gift card.
For a complete list of applicable rules regarding Conservation Events, please see: http://staging.cenhudpeakperks.com/program-rules/
Potential Financial Rewards
- $25 Sign-on Reward
- $50 per kW saved each year
| IF YOU CAN SAVE … | 2kW | 3kW | 4kW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sign-on Reward | $25 | $25 | $25 |
| Annual Reward | $100 | $150 | $200 |
FAQ
Why Peak Perks? Why now?
Electricity demand is particularly strong during summer days when thousands of central air conditioners power on. These “peak periods” of energy use strain the power grid in areas of limited transmission capacity. Peak Perks programs help keep the power flowing and reward participants for their assistance in reducing demand.
Am I eligible to participate in a Peak Perks program?
The Peak Perks program is open to all Central Hudson residential customers in specifically targeted areas where there are energy distribution concerns. Participants must be homeowners or residents in a multiple dwelling complex with control of their thermostats who receive their electric bill directly from Central Hudson Gas & Electric. For tenants, landlord approval must be certified.
To quickly determine if you are eligible, call 844-258-7761.
What is “cycling?” What is a “conservation event?”
Your central air conditioner compressor normally cycles on and off to maintain your setpoint. When a conservation event occurs, your thermostat or outdoor switch receives a signal to put your compressor into a conservation mode, running it half the time it did during the hour prior to the conservation event. When regional demand for electricity reduces to an acceptable level, your compressor then returns to pre-set standard operation.
What financial benefits will I receive for participating in a Peak Perks program?
Participants in the Peak Perks Thermostat Program or Outdoor Switch Program will receive an $100 Installation Reward and either a $50 or $75 Annual Reward credited to their accounts for full summer season program participation.
Participants in the Peak Perks My Thermostat Rewards Program receive $100 for enrolling their Honeywell Home thermostat in the program and $50 Annual Reward credited to their account for full summer season program participation.
Participants in the Peak Perks Custom Savings Program receive a $25 Sign-on Reward and $50 per kilowatt they save during conservation events compared to their average usage during those hours.
Can I participate in more than one Peak Perks program?
No, participation is restricted to one Peak Perks program of your choice. You may, however, switch programs if you qualify for a different Peak Perks program.
For the Custom Savings Program, how is my average usage determined?
Your energy savings is determined by measuring your energy use against a baseline. Your Customer Baseline Load (CBL) is your average hourly usage during the top 5 demand days out of the last 10 eligible weekdays.
How much energy do my appliances and equipment use?
Heating and cooling account for about 48% of your annual bill. Your clothes dryer uses about 20% of your household appliance energy. Consider shifting your largest energy users to lower demand times of the day.
Learn More a full list of home big energy use appliances and equipment and an explanation of kilowatt and kilowatt hour.
How many Conservation Events can I expect each summer season?
Participants in the Thermostat Program, Outdoor Switch Program, and My Thermostat Rewards Program can expect 5 to 10 conservation events, occurring from June 1 through September 30, between noon and 8 p.m., lasting one-half (1/2) hour up to four (4) hours (no weekends or federal holidays).
Participants in the Custom Savings Program can expect approximately 3 events per season lasting roughly 3 hours each.
During a conservation event, will my comfort level be affected?
During a conservation event, the temperature in a typical home may rise 1 – 3 degrees at 50% cycling and 2 – 4 degrees at 75% cycling during a 4-hour event. Variables such as home insulation, shaded windows, the addition of ceiling fans, and the amount of foot traffic can also affect the temperature.
How will I know if a conservation event is occurring?
Participants in the Custom Savings Program will receive notification of a conservation event roughly 24 hours in advance and confirmation 32 hours in advance.
Participants in the Thermostat Program and My Thermostat Rewards Program will see the LED light in the upper left corner of the thermostat glow green and the display will read “CONTROL ACTIVE” at the top of the screen. They’ll also receive notification on their energy manager web portal and an email (if opted in to email communications).
Participants in the Outdoor Switch program will need to go outside to inspect the device. A red LED will appear in the window of the outdoor switch and remain illuminated throughout the conservation event.
Can Thermostat and Outdoor Switch participants opt out of conservation events?
Yes. Participants are allowed two (2) opt outs per program season. You may opt out of any Central Hudson-initiated conservation event simply by calling 844-258-7761 and speaking with a Central Hudson Peak Perks customer service representative. However, you may not opt out of any emergency conservation event called by NYISO, the independent system operator responsible for the state’s transmission network.
Can I withdraw from a Peak Perks program?
Once enrolled, participants must remain in their program for 12 months or a portion of their enrollment reward credit will be reversed. If a thermostat or outdoor switch has been installed and you notify us that you are leaving the program, Central Hudson will immediately disable your device(s). Your A/C compressor will no longer be cycled during conservation events, and you will no longer accrue money toward an Annual Reward. Central Hudson will not remove the programmable thermostat or switch unless you request us to do so. To leave a Central Hudson Peak Perks program, call 844-258-7761.