Austin Energy Sets Record in 2025 Demand Response Program as the utility marked a record year for its demand response efforts, reinforcing its commitment to grid reliability and sustainability. The achievement was driven by a targeted rollout plan implemented last summer, designed to ensure dependable electric service during periods of peak demand. Through these efforts, Austin Energy continued strengthening its strategy to balance energy demand while supporting long-term clean energy goals.
A demand response program manages electricity consumption during peak demand times to reduce strain on the power grid and avoid outages and high costs. The utility is working diligently to expand demand response programs, targeting 78 megawatts by 2027 and 270 megawatts by 2035 as part of its Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan.
Through innovative strategies and strong community participation, the program delivered measurable benefits for customers and the electric grid.
- Peak Load Reduction: Austin Energy achieved an estimated average peak load drop of 57 megawatts (MW) during high-demand periods, enough to power more than 14,000 homes.
- Enrollment Growth: Commercial customer participation surged by 30%, with improved event performance averaging 6% across approximately 900 locations.
Austin Energy also enrolled all 195 eligible City of Austin facilities in its Commercial Demand Response program, further strengthening local resilience.
The utility continues to offer rebates, add providers and manage charging for certain EVs as part of its Power Partner℠EV Program, enabling electric vehicle owners to earn bill credits by supporting grid stability during peak times. During designated Power Partner events, Austin Energy will temporarily pause or reduce charging speed on a participant’s Level 2 EV charger or qualifying vehicle. These adjustments are minor, do not drain battery charge, and can be manually overridden at any time.
“Austin Energy’s Demand Response program is just one small part of our efforts to maintain reliability while advancing clean energy goals,” said Austin Energy General Manager Stuart Reilly. “The growth and performance improvements we’ve seen this year demonstrate the power of innovation and customer collaboration.”
Summary
Austin Energy sets a record in its 2025 demand response program, demonstrating how targeted energy management strategies can strengthen grid reliability while advancing sustainability goals. During periods of high electricity demand, the program achieved an average peak load reduction of 57 megawatts—enough power to serve more than 14,000 homes. Participation also grew significantly, with commercial enrollment increasing by 30% and improved event performance recorded across roughly 900 locations. In addition, all 195 eligible City of Austin facilities joined the Commercial Demand Response program, helping build greater resilience across the local energy system.
Demand response programs play an increasingly important role in modern power grids by encouraging customers to temporarily reduce or shift electricity use during peak demand, helping utilities avoid outages and costly emergency power generation. Austin Energy is also expanding its initiatives through the Power Partner EV Program, which allows electric vehicle owners to earn bill credits by briefly reducing or pausing charging during designated peak events. As the utility works toward its long-term targets of 78 megawatts of demand response capacity by 2027 and 270 megawatts by 2035, the program highlights how collaboration between utilities, businesses, and customers can support a more flexible, reliable, and sustainable energy future—making it a model worth exploring for other cities and utilities.
Source: Austintexas.gov
