Post: Earn more, curtail less: the most profitable demand response opportunity in PJM

Earn more, curtail less: the most profitable demand response opportunity in PJM

As energy demand continues to climb across the PJM region, businesses are seeking new and reliable ways to control rising electricity costs. At the same time, the grid’s increasing strain has created new opportunities for large energy users to earn substantial revenue by participating in demand response initiatives.

This is where GridBeyond has captured widespread attention. At the center of the discussion is the offer that PJM customers can receive up to a 100% revenue share—an offer that can sound almost too good to be true. Yet it is real, financially supported, and grounded in market conditions that make it both possible and advantageous for participating businesses.

But many organizations believe participation is unrealistic because they cannot simply shut down operations. This is one of the most common misconceptions around demand response. GridBeyond’s approach does not require a facility to turn off its entire operation. Instead, GridBeyond works directly with each customer to identify which portion of their load is suitable for brief, controlled curtailment without affecting critical processes, production output, or site reliability. Often this involves adjusting non-essential loads, tapping into existing onsite flexibility, or co-ordinating minor shifts in operation. Customers frequently discover that far less curtailment is required than they originally assumed.

Another key concern is the fear that demand response programs activate frequently, creating disruption or uncertainty. In reality, the ELRP program in PJM is infrequently called. Most years involve only a single two-hour test event, and businesses receive ample notice to prepare. Actual emergency events occur only when the grid is already under extreme stress; situations in which power to the facility may be at risk regardless of participation. In these moments, participation becomes not just an opportunity for revenue but a practical measure that supports both the site and the wider grid.

Some businesses hesitate because product demand is high, and they fear that even short interruptions might cause unacceptable financial loss. Most customers have found that capacity revenue exceeds the potential cost of brief curtailment, particularly in the current PJM market where prices are elevated. This is where GridBeyond’s technology-driven approach makes a difference. By integrating automated controls, real-time visibility tools, and AI-enabled optimization, GridBeyond removes the complexity that often frustrates participants. Instead of manual interventions or guesswork, businesses benefit from a system that intelligently manages demand response events, verifies performance, and maintains consistency without negatively impacting operational risk.

Some organizations compare the program to managing their Peak Load Contribution (PLC), believing PLC reduction is sufficient to offset capacity costs. While PLC management can provide savings; it brings substantial challenges.

It often requires around 30 hours of curtailment per year, typically with limited notice based on forecasted grid peaks (compared to 2-hour curtailment with ample notice). PLC performance is also not guaranteed: the official PLC hours are not published until later in the year, meaning businesses only learn after the fact whether they successfully captured the intended benefit. Missing even one of the five PLC hours can reduce the savings by 20%.

Taken together, these factors make GridBeyond one of the most attractive and operationally manageable opportunities currently available to PJM energy users. It provides substantial, predictable revenue with minimal disruption, supported by advanced automation and backed by market conditions that reward flexibility and grid support.

For organizations seeking to manage energy costs, improve financial resilience, and participate in a program built for today’s evolving grid, GridBeyond’s solution stands out as a smart, reliable, and highly lucrative choice.