This blog refers specifically to the ConnectedSolutions program offered by Massachusetts utilities Eversource and National Grid. Program eligibility, incentives, and participating utilities vary by state and utility territory. Other utilities in New England, including Rhode Island Energy, may offer ConnectedSolutions programs with different requirements and benefits.

If you live in Eversource or National Grid territory, your utility will reward you for helping to shave peak energy demand! When energy consumption is highest—typically during the hottest days of the year— it puts more demand on the electric grid. Hot weather is a major driver of peak demand, as more people turn on their air conditioning to stay cool when temperatures rise.

Reducing energy use during these periods of high demand is key to lowering energy costs and pollution in the region. Your utilities have developed a program to make it easier for you to do just that.

Introducing ConnectedSolutions

ConnectedSolutions is a program administered by Eversource and National Grid to reduce demand on the electric grid by having households or businesses with qualified smart thermostats or home battery storage systems enroll their device(s) in the program and collectively participate in reducing energy demand on the grid through a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) model.

When peak demand is predicted to occur, the utility calls a ‘peak event,’ which is when all devices enrolled in ConnectedSolutions are called upon to reduce demand on the grid in one of the following ways:

1. All smart thermostats enrolled are sent a signal to adjust the temperature of the thermostat by a few degrees;

2. All battery systems enrolled in the program are called upon to discharge the energy stored in the battery to supplement the grid’s existing energy supply.

The best part? You get paid to do it!

ConnectedSolutions provides annual incentives for its participants. For people with smart thermostats, this includes a one-time enrollment bonus of $50 ($100 for income-eligible customers) and an additional $20 per year of participation for residential customers and $200 for businesses (customers in areas with high demand may be eligible for increased incentives). For battery users, your program administrator will pay you $275 for the average number of kW your battery contributes to the grid across all events in a season. A typical battery earns around $1,290 in a given season. See below for details on how each program works.

*Customers in certain areas may be eligible for increased incentives with varying frequency and duration. You can learn more about the ConnectedSolutions + program here for Eversource and here for National Grid.

Join one of our free upcoming webinars to learn more about ConnectedSolutions.

What does a peak event look like?

Once you’ve enrolled, your program administrator will take care of the rest.

For smart thermostat users, your home will begin its precooling process of turning down the set temperature by several degrees in preparation for the peak event.

Once the event begins, thermostat users will see their set temperature rise by approximately 3-4°F, and battery users will see their batteries begin to discharge energy back to the grid or home. You are always in control and can opt out at any time.*

All events will take place between June 1 and September 30 of a given year and will typically only last for a few hours. You will receive your annual performance incentives by the end of the calendar year following each season.

*Note: For people with smart thermostat, there is no penalty for opting out of events, and you will still receive your full participation incentive. For people with batteries, opting out of an event will decrease your overall performance incentive.

Why is it important to shave the peak?

Peak days are important for both energy costs and pollution. When demand spikes, the grid relies more on more expensive and polluting power sources such as oil- and gas-fired “peaker plants". These fossil-fuel-powered peaker plants contribute only a fraction of our electricity over the course of the year (about 2-7%) but have an enormous impact on energy prices and air pollution. In case you’re interested in learning more, check out our blog about the summer 2025 peak demand trends.

Lowering peak demand means lower energy costs and better health outcomes.

Small reductions in electricity usage across many households can make a big impact because it reduces demand on the grid in the moments when the alternative is to meet these short-term bursts by turning to fossil-fuel peaker plants. To the extent that you are able, shifting your energy use to off-peak hours and reducing energy consumption during peak demand periods can do a lot to simultaneously reduce emissions and energy costs.

One of the most effective ways to lower peak demand is through joining a demand response program like ConnectedSolutions. You can learn more about the National Grid program here and the Eversource program here.

Green Energy Consumers Alliance Shave the Peak Program

In addition, you can further maximize your impact by joining Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s Shave the Peak program. ConnectedSolutions helps reduce peak demand automatically through your smart thermostat or battery system, while Shave the Peak helps you stay informed and gives you additional ways to reduce usage during peak hours.* Used together, they reinforce each other; one provides automated demand reduction, and the other helps you layer on additional savings through everyday choices.

Shave the Peak participants receive alerts before peak demand events, along with practical tips to reduce electricity use when it matters most. Small actions, like delaying laundry or turning off unnecessary lights, can collectively make a meaningful difference for the grid, air quality, and energy costs.

Learn more and sign up here. And stay tuned for a blog about kicking off the summer season for Shave the Peak. This year, we will be promoting ConnectedSolutions as part of our Shave the Peak program.

*Green Energy Consumers Alliance’s Shave the Peak program determines peak events by monitoring ISO-NE's demand forecast, which may not align directly with when the ConnectedSolutions program calls events.