Franklin Energy to Implement Innovative Demand Response Program for NC’s Electric Cooperatives

PORT WASHINGTON, WIS. JANUARY 13, 2020

Franklin Energy, a leading provider of energy efficiency and grid optimization solutions, announced today that they will manage North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ expanded Residential Demand Response program.

The program will initially be provided to a select number of homeowners and renters served by five of the state’s electric cooperatives: Brunswick Electric, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative, Jones-Onslow EMC, Lumbee River EMC and South River EMC. To be eligible for the program, members must be living in a single-family home or multifamily property with a WiFi connection.

“We’re pleased to partner with Franklin Energy to deploy in-home demand response devices, including smart thermostats and water heater controls, on a wider scale,” said Jimmy Wilkins, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives Director of Portfolio and Resource Optimization. “We’ve piloted this technology in the past, and this initiative will expand on the success of our previous efforts to further improve power reliability and help cooperative members achieve both energy and cost savings.”

Through this program, qualifying homeowners and renters can go online and enroll in the program, purchase a discounted Nest or ecobee smart thermostat for as low as $25 and schedule an appointment for free professional installation. In addition to the low-cost smart thermostat, members will receive an annual $50 incentive for their continued participation and an additional $50 one-time incentive for an electric water heater controller added to the plan. Once installed, the smart thermostats and water heater controllers will automatically adjust during times of high-power demand across the electric grid, keeping energy use and costs lower while maintaining comfortable in-home and hot water temperatures.

“Franklin Energy is excited to provide a best-in-class experience to North Carolina Electric Cooperatives’ members,” said Kevin McDonough, President of Franklin Energy. “From program enrollment and product selection through in-field installation and customer support, our platform will deliver a seamless member experience for all elements of the program.”

Through this partnership, North Carolina Electric Cooperatives and Franklin Energy intend to reach their goal of expanding load control programs to 100MW capacity by the end of 2023.

About North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
Driven by service and inspired by innovation, North Carolina's electric cooperatives are building a brighter energy future for 2.5 million North Carolinians. Beyond providing electricity, each of the 26 not-for-profit cooperatives is investing in their communities and delivering new energy solutions to improve quality of life for co-op members in 93 of North Carolina's 100 counties. To learn more, visit ncelectriccooperatives.com.

About Franklin Energy
Franklin Energy delivers, facilitates and implements flexible energy efficiency and grid optimization programs that enable utilities to achieve their highest-priority goals. The company’s integrated in-house services and proven software provide deeper personalization and insights for utilities, their customers and their partners alike. Franklin’s NGAGE™ platform is a scalable end-to-end solution that seamlessly integrates utility portfolio programs into a single web-based user interface for more efficient portfolio administration and more effective customer engagement. The company is celebrating its 25th year serving the utility industry, with solutions implemented by more than 1,000 experts in more than 60 offices across more than 25 states and provinces.