Smart Usage Rewards

If you're a commercial or industrial customer, enroll in our Demand Response “Smart Usage” program and get paid to temporarily reduce your electric usage when requested by O&R.

About Smart Usage

The Smart Usage program rewards you for temporarily lowering your building’s energy consumption during the summer months when electric demand is at its peak. By using less energy, you’ll help reduce stress on the grid and ensure everyone has access to safe and reliable power. Plus, you can earn incentives simply by decreasing your usage during high-demand periods.

This program is free for O&R commercial customers in New York, with no cost to enroll or participate. You can opt out at any time.

1. Select the Program Type to Participate In

Commercial System Relief Program (CSRP)

You’ll receive up to 21 hours’ advance notice requesting you reduce electric usage to support O&R on the hottest days of the summer. You must be able to respond to these events Monday through Friday.

Distribution Load Relief Program (DLRP)

You’ll receive up to two hours’ advance notice requesting you reduce your electric usage to help maintain system reliability in your community. You must be ready to respond to these requests any day of the week between 6 a.m. and midnight.

Good to Know:

You must have a communicating interval meter. You may be eligible to participate in both programs simultaneously.

2. Select an Incentive Payment Option

Reservation Payment Option*

Each month, you’ll earn payments for the energy you’ve pledged to reduce on request (kW), plus additional payments for the actual energy you save (kWh) during events. Even if no events are called, you’ll still receive your monthly payments. You’re also required to participate in a test event each year you take part in this payment option.

Program	Hours of Notification Before DR Event	Monthly Reservation Payment Rate	Performance Payment Rate During DR Events
Distribution Load Relief Program (2 Hours or Less Notification Program)	2 Hours	Tier 1 Areas (zip codes not listed below): $3 per kW per month	$0.50 per kWh
	2 Hours	Tier 2* Areas: $5 per kW per month	$0.50 per kWh
Commercial System Relief Program (21 Hours Notification Program)	21 Hours	$3 per kW per month	$0.50 per kWh

*DLRP Tier 2 Areas

Central Orange: 10926, 10930, 10950
Eastern Orange: 10928
Southeast Orange: 10918, 10990
Central Rockland: 10952, 10954, 10977
Southeast Rockland: 10913, 10960, 10962, 10964, 10976, 10983
Northeast Rockland: 10901, 10927, 10956, 10970, 10980, 10993

Enrollment Periods

For Events from May 1 to September 30
Enrollment Deadline: April 1

For Events from June 1 to September 30
Enrollment Deadline: May 1

Voluntary Participation Payment Option*

Under this option, you’ll only be paid if you reduce energy usage at O&R’s request, whether you’re enrolled in the Distribution Load Relief Program or the Commercial System Relief Program.

You’ll earn $1 for each kWh of energy you save. You must maintain a reduction in electric usage for at least four hours during an event.

There’s no requirement to participate in a test event, and you can sign up for this option at any time during the summer.

*Energy usage reduction during the test and all events is measured using the Customer Baseline Load procedure.

3. Start Your Application

It’s often easiest to apply through an Aggregator (PDF); however, if you can reduce at least 50 kW, you’re welcome to apply directly with O&R. Contact Desmond Ofori (oforid@oru.com) to begin the application process.

A Note for Aggregators

Aggregators must have systems and processes in place to:

Respond to demand response events according to O&R’s prescribed notification system.
Ensure enrolled customers comply with demand response event timeframes.
Electronically submit enrollments to O&R through the established enrollment system.

Auto/Term Dynamic Load Management RFP

If you are an Aggregator or customer who's interested and able to provide demand response resources, view our Request for Proposal for Auto and/or Term Dynamic Load Management resources for 2026.

2026 Vintage Year Summary Proposal Template (XLS)