September 19, 2021 - FOLSOM, Calif. – The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has launched an upgraded version of its popular Flex Alert voluntary energy conservation program to add direct consumer feedback and boost participation.

The enhancements include an option for users to indicate their willingness to reduce electricity consumption during a Flex Alert, marking the first time the program has offered an opportunity for consumers to respond directly about their planned conservation efforts. The new feature was developed in coordination with Energy Web, a global nonprofit organization that builds decentralized, open-source operating systems for the clean-energy sector.

“Flex Alerts have been an important tool for engaging the public and triggering voluntary conservation to help relieve strained grid conditions for more than 20 years,” said Mark Rothleder, chief operating officer for the ISO. “This year, our work with Energy Web has made the program smarter, more effective, and more measurable. We’re proud that our power grid is one of the most modern in the world, and now with this innovative Flex Alert improvement, we’re looking forward even more to partnering with Californians to help us keep electricity flowing at critical times.”

Consumers can subscribe for the program through a user-friendly interface, receive notifications by text or email, and then indicate their plans to respond to a Flex Alert.

Over time, it’s anticipated that several million Californians will subscribe to the new Flex Alert program. The aggregated analytics will be used to make more improvements and design changes to the Flex Alert program in the coming years, making it a more reliable measure of consumer conservation patterns.

The Energy Web team views its collaboration with the ISO as a platform for similar work to accelerate the low-carbon transition of other power grids worldwide.

“The world’s grid operators look to the California ISO as one of the pre-eminent examples of cutting-edge approaches to electricity markets and operations,” said Jesse Morris, chief executive officer of Energy Web. “We’re honored to support the evolution of their Flex Alert system with this partnership.”

A Flex Alert is a call for consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity when there is a predicted shortage of energy supplies. When the ISO issues a Flex Alert, consumers are asked to cut back on electricity use, typically from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. As an educational and emergency alert program, Flex Alerts inform consumers when grid conditions are strained and conservation is needed to stretch supplies.

The ISO’s Flex Alert program, which began in 2000 to alleviate strained conditions on the power grid, has been instrumental in helping avoid more dire emergency measures, including rotating power outages.

Visit FlexAlert.org for more information and to subscribe to the expanded program.

Visit EnergyWeb.org for more information about the organization’s focus on building core infrastructure and shared technology.
Source: CA. ISO