New Program Encouraging GMP Customers To Save Energy and Money While Sharing With Vermont Foodbank

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) customers can now sign up for Save and Share, a pilot program that empowers customers to reduce energy use, saving them and all GMP customers money while also raising money for the Vermont Foodbank during this unprecedented time of increased need. Customers who enroll will get notifications about predicted energy peaks so they can reduce their own energy use during times when power is most expensive, and often dirtiest. This program will further add to savings generated for customers through the network of stored energy GMP already uses to manage energy peaks.

“This is a great way for customers to be able to save money and help other Vermonters at the same time. Signing up for notifications is simple. They let you know when an energy peak is predicted,” said Josh Castonguay, GMP vice president and chief innovation executive.

Energy peaks often happen during heatwaves but can also happen during the winter. They are when there is the most power use, the cost of power is most expensive, and often dirtiest. GMP already reduces costs for all customers during peaks with a pioneering network of stored energy in home batteries, utility scale batteries and other networked devices like heat pumps and car chargers. This new pilot offers customers another way to reduce their own energy use and costs, while reducing costs for all customers. For every 1 MW of energy saved by customers through the program during peaks, GMP will provide $5,000 to the Vermont Foodbank, which is seeing increased requests for help during the pandemic.

Customers enroll by filling out a sign-up form on GMP’s website to get notifications about predicted energy peaks.  Then, customers can take steps that work for them to reduce their own energy use. Some common ways to reduce power use include:

• Waiting until after the peak to use the dishwasher
• Waiting to do laundry
• Shifting the temp on your air conditioner
• Waiting to use, or turning off, other appliances and lights

Efficiency Vermont has more tips to reduce power use.

The Save and Share pilot program is part of GMP’s larger package of initiatives announced in May to help customers save money, help each other and spur the economy called Go, Save & Share Green.  It features enhanced rebates on heat pumps, electric bikes, and electric mowers along with a new program that allows solar net metering customers to share some of their credits to help nonprofits and small businesses working to recover from the COVID-19 slowdown. More on Go, Save & Share Green.

You can learn more about GMP’s Save and Share pilot program and enroll to get notifications about energy peaks, by visiting Save and Share on GMP’s website.

For more on how you can help the Vermont Foodbank ensure all are fed during this time of increased need, visit Vermont Foodbank.

About Green Mountain Power

Green Mountain Power (GMP) serves approximately 266,000 residential and business customers in Vermont and is partnering with them to improve lives and transform communities. GMP is focused on a new way of doing business to meet the needs of customers with integrated energy services that help people use less energy and save money, while continuing to generate clean, cost-effective and reliable power in Vermont. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. GMP earned a spot on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World list four years in a row (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).  J.D. Power’s 2018 and 2019 rankings put GMP among top utilities for customer satisfaction. In 2019 and 2020 GMP was named “One of the Best Places to Work in Vermont” by Vermont Business Magazine and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, and was the winner of the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Vermont Business of the Year Award in 2019.

This is a great way for customers to be able to save money and help other Vermonters at the same time.

Josh Castonguay, GMP Vice President and Chief Innovation Executive

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