In the News
ConsumerPowerline Brings Service to New EnglandBuilding Services Management
February 6, 2006
NEW YORK -- With concerns that the local power grid will face rolling black-outs due to weather-induced instability in the natural gas and electricity markets, ConsumerPowerline (CPLN), a for-profit energy consumer advocate, will bring its energy conservation, efficiency and distribution expertise to New England.
As it has done in New York City for the past four years, CPLN works to help alleviate stresses on the power grid by selling excess electricity back to the market in times of crisisThe company is entering New England due to the regional independent system operator's (NEISO's) request for help that was issued by the ISO's Demand Response Working Group on Nov. 2, 2005. ConsumerPowerline immediately registered to provide system relief. Last week, the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL) Membership Committee voted to admit the firm. ConsumerPowerline will be working with some of the region's largest energy consumers to prepare for and mitigate against a potential looming winter electricity crisis, fed by hurricane-induced supply shortages and price hikes."Electricity consumers in New England have been living under a cloud since Hurricane Katrina drove up the price of natural gas, fearing that with the coming winter season they will be faced with the potential of rolling blackouts. As we have done with the metro-New York City market, ConsumerPowerline is going to help large New England power users to earn money by providing load reductions to ensure against blackouts or brownouts at moments when the power supply could be short," said Michael Gordon, founder and President of ConsumerPowerline. "By aggregating massive pools of electricity from our clients, we will be able to create a virtual power plant that the local power company's can tap into on ½ hour notice. This electricity can be used to help power homes, businesses, hospitals, etc. across all of New England avoiding the worst of a electricity crunch."ConsumerPowerline works by negotiating with local and regional power authorities for capacity energy savings for its clients, sells the extra energy supply back to the independent operators and then splits the revenue with its clients. The client does not pay ConsumerPowerline for its services, but benefits from real-time data on electricity pricing, enabling them to "buy and sell smart" in the volatile energy sector. They also receive what amounts to free ongoing "energy audits" from the energy advocate, where company experts advise on how to make the facility more energy efficient.Further information on ConsumerPowerline may be found at the company's web site: www.consumerpowerline.com ConsumerPowerline (CPLN) is an owner's energy representative, which serves to move clout and cash into the hands of energy buyers. The firm was founded to provide clients with energy curtailment services. These services include advisory plans for companies on how to manage their energy use in times of 'grid crisis,' and to sell the results of this managed use (reduced consumption at emergency moments) back to the local and regional energy markets.
The firm's clients include: CB Richard Ellis, Morgan Stanley, Macy's, Starwood Hotels, Hines Property Management, The United Federation of Teachers, Forest City Ratner Corporation, Co-op City, Mac Lowe Properties, RFR Realty, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Newmark Properties, Douglas Elliman, Cooper Square Realty, The Wentworth Group, and twentysix other substantial end-users of energy.