Frequently Asked Questions

Energy Wise Rewards for Business is a voluntary program available to eligible business customers who want to save on their energy bill. For Maryland business customers, when you enroll, we’ll connect an indoor Energy Wise Rewards programmable thermostat or an outdoor switch near your central air conditioning unit or heat pump. On select days from June through October, we’ll automatically cycle participating central air conditioners and heat pumps to help balance the region’s demand for electricity. These events are known as “conservation periods.” Energy Wise Rewards for Business works best when it is truly a community-wide effort. By participating, you can receive monthly bill credits while helping support a more reliable energy grid.

No. Participation is voluntary, and there is no cost to participate.

To qualify for Energy Wise Rewards for Business, you must be a business, nonprofit, congregation, or other commercial customer that has a central air-conditioning unit or heat pump and receives an electric bill directly from Pepco.

The following equipment does not qualify for Energy Wise Rewards for Business:

• Geothermal heat pumps, also known as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source or water-source heat pumps

• Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp, desert or air coolers

• Thermostats controlled by alarm or automation systems

Still have questions about whether your business or equipment qualifies? Please contact us before enrolling at 1-866-353-5798.

When a conservation period is called, your device will receive a radio signal that will put your cooling unit’s compressor into a “conservation mode.” For instance, if you choose 50% cycling, your compressor will operate for half the amount of time it operated during the hour before the conservation period. The fan will continue circulating air even though the compressor has reduced operating time.

Yes. Energy Wise Rewards for Business has been designed to meet your changing needs. During your first year of participation, you may switch your participation level up to two times. In subsequent years, you may change your participation level once per year. If you would like to switch your device type, please contact the customer hotline at 1-866-353-5798 to request and schedule the change.

The number of bill credits you receive during the calendar year may depend on when your eligible programmable thermostat or A/C switch device was enrolled in Energy Wise Rewards for Business. Customers who enroll later in the year may not receive all available bill credits for that calendar year.

Peak energy demand occurs when everyone uses a large amount of electricity at the same time, placing stress on the supply of energy. The frequency of critical peak-demand periods has increased as the population and use of electric equipment have grown. Energy Wise Rewards for Business is just one way Pepco is managing the rising demand for electricity, averting power outages, and helping the environment by reducing emissions produced on days with extreme weather.

The number of conservation periods depends on many factors, including weather, peak electricity demand, and wholesale energy costs. Energy Wise Rewards for Business may be activated during periods of high electricity demand, system testing or emergency conditions. As a result, there may be as few as one or two conservation events, or as many as a dozen. All customers enrolled in Energy Wise Rewards for Business will be informed prior to a conservation event taking place.

PJM Interconnection may also initiate an emergency event when necessary to help maintain the reliability of the regional electric grid. Because grid conditions are unpredictable, Pepco cannot determine in advance how often these emergency events may occur.

PJM Interconnection is the regional organization responsible for coordinating the flow of electricity and maintaining the reliability of the energy grid across Maryland and other states in the Mid-Atlantic region. PJM monitors electricity demand and grid conditions and works with electric utilities to help ensure reliable service for businesses and other customers.

Regular conservation periods typically occur on weekday afternoons and can last from two to four hours. However, if PJM Interconnection calls a grid emergency event for reliability reasons, the event will continue until the situation is resolved. Because emergency conditions are unpredictable, Pepco cannot determine in advance how long this type of event will last. As Energy Wise Rewards for Business participants, your business may be asked to reduce electricity use as part of these efforts.

All customers are permitted to opt out of two conservation periods per season. To opt out, call the Energy Wise Rewards for Business customer hotline at 1-866-353-5798.

Customers are not permitted to opt out of an emergency event initiated by PJM Interconnection, the operator that manages the energy grid for our region. These events are critical to maintaining grid reliability and reducing the risk of widespread power outages.

Yes. Only you can decide what is appropriate for you and your business. During a conservation period, the temperature inside your business could increase, depending on your cycling level. Please consider whether this potential temperature change could affect anyone at your business before enrolling. If you need assistance during a conservation period, call the Energy Wise Rewards for Business hotline at 1-866-353-5798 to opt out.

During a conservation period, the temperature in a typical facility may rise 1 to 3 degrees (50% cycling level), so you may not notice a difference. Variables such as building insulation, shaded windows, the addition of ceiling fans, and the amount of foot traffic can also affect the temperature in your business.

The indicators will depend on which energy-saving device is installed at your business:

• Programmable thermostat: During a conservation period, the thermostat’s LED will glow red, and the display will read “SAVE” or “Event in Progress.” The light in the center of the control arrows will remain steady for the duration of the conservation period.
• Outdoor switch: A red LED will appear in the window of the outdoor switch for the duration of the conservation period. Outdoor switches are typically mounted next to your business’s outdoor air-conditioning unit.

Enrolled Energy Wise Rewards for Business participants will also receive email communications about conservation periods. Pepco will post a notification banner on the Energy Wise Rewards for Business webpage when a conservation period is in progress.

Yes. Maryland and the broader region are experiencing increasing electric demand while the supply of available power is becoming tighter. Extreme weather can put even more pressure on the energy grid, making emergency events more likely during the summer and other periods of high energy demand. If a PJM grid emergency event occurs, customers who voluntarily signed up for the Energy Wise Rewards for Business program are expected to participate in these events in accordance with the program rules and customer agreement and will need to call a hotline to opt out.

Pepco customers use more energy during the summer season than at other times of the year. As the area grows and more new and existing customers install central air conditioners, demand for electricity reaches higher peaks in the summer, putting a strain on the energy grid. Participating in Energy Wise Rewards for Business helps reduce strain on the electric grid and the risk of brownouts and blackouts during periods of high energy demand.