Press Releases
Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management Wins Coveted Energy AwardStrategic Energy Asset Management Firm ConsumerPowerline Works with State to Deploy Award-Winning Energy Curtailment Services
NEW YORK, March 14, 2006 - The Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) has recognized the recent work undertaken by the Massachusetts Division of Capital Management (DCAM) with the 2005 award for "Outstanding Achievement by an End User" for PLMA's Demand Response Awards program.
DCAM was awarded this prestigious honor in recognition of the recent work undertaken with ConsumerPowerline in January 2006 to establish and implement grid reliability programs for 19 government facilities in the state of Massachusetts, including universities, hospitals and correctional facilities statewide. ConsumerPowerline partnered with metering firm RETX to develop, deploy and install the needed meters in these facilities. Additionally, ConsumerPowerline partnered with engineering firm Sebesta Blomberg and CR Solutions to leverage their local knowledge of Massachusetts' facilities.
The team led by ConsumerPowerline was able to, in less than two weeks, work with DCAM to participate in the Independent System Operator of New England's (ISO-New England) Winter Supplemental Demand Response Program beginning in January, 2006. The participating facilities made commitments to reduce energy consumption in the event of a grid crisis and are helping to improve the overall reliability of the New England power grid.
Additionally, the program creates a special fund based on the revenues generated by the demand response program which will be reinvested into each facility to upgrade equipment and other hard energy assets.
"With the winter weather in full-effect and the critical nature of the energy crisis in New England, we knew that we had to act fast in order to prevent the potential for widespread blackouts for residents in the State of Massachusetts," said Mark Nelson, deputy commissioner for DCAM. "Without the leadership and agility of our energy aggregators, it might have been impossible to implement a demand response system so quickly and pain-free. Winning this award is a testament to their efforts and an accolade for all involved."
"ConsumerPowerline was able to meet the aggressive launch schedule as a result of the tremendous assistance and support we received from all levels involved in the process.
Each participant was 100 percent committed, from the DCAM staff to the individuals at each facility, to making this a success for all. Without their help, commitment, knowledge and willingness to go the extra mile, ConsumerPowerline would not have been able to design and implement this program," said Chelle Izzi, director of asset services at ConsumerPowerline. "ConsumerPowerline is thrilled that the PLMA has recognized DCAM for their forward thinking and innovative efforts in developing a demand response program on such short notice."
About ConsumerPowerline
ConsumerPowerline (CPLN) (www.consumerpowerline.com) provides strategic energy asset management (SEAM) to its customers under an aligned incentive model while seeking to transfer power and financial returns to the end user. ConsumerPowerline's products and services help its customers pay the least for energy, get the most for energy they buy, and earn the most for what they can reduce. The firm is unique in how it approaches the market - using deregulated market opportunities to first create new revenue for customers. This new income, and the accompanying new information, facilitates customers achieving a lot more a lot sooner. Among the firms comprehensive strategic services are energy curtailment services, engineering, strategic commodity purchase and industrial procurement. 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, Forest City Ratner Corporation, Co-op City, Macklowe Properties, RFR Realty, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Newmark Properties, Douglas Elliman Property Management, Cooper Square Realty, Wentworth Management, and dozens of other substantial end-users of energy.
About PLMA
PLMA is a diverse association of leading energy professionals dedicated to developing and promoting consumer participation in electricity markets around the world using load management. Members include consultants, energy companies, equipment suppliers and trade allies who work together to share information that enhances consumer participation through education and improving the vehicles consumers can use to actively participate in electricity markets. For more information on the PLMA, visit www.peaklma.com.
About RETX
RETX (www.retx.com), headquartered in Atlanta, provides electric system operators and energy market participants with software tools, implementation services and Internet access giving customers new abilities to manage grid reliability, price volatility, risk and markets. RETX enables users to see real-time energy prices and react to market conditions. RETX delivers powerful tools to system operators, utilities and energy providers to collect individual energy information, enabling a new understanding of critical usage patterns resulting in better procurement decisions. RETX's tools give energy users the capability to conduct transactions with energy companies and market operators and to trade excess demand or generation for cash during times of constrained reliability or volatile commodity prices.
About Sebesta Blomberg
Sebesta Blomberg is an engineering based consulting firm with offices throughout the U.S. Sebesta Blomberg provides energy management and engineering services to large institutional, industrial, and commercial clients, including several state facilities in Massachusetts.
About Conservation Resource Solutions
Conservation Resource Solutions, Inc. (CR Solutions) (www.crsolutions.us) is a technology integrator and service provider specializing in Internet-enabled meter data collection, management, and application software solutions for multiple resource usage sectors such as electricity, natural gas, water, and steam. CR Solutions is also an ISO-NE certified Internet-Based Communication System (IBCS) provider, and as such, enables demand response program participation for New England market participants and their customer assets.