Demand Response Program (DR)
Demand Response Program
Cut your energy costs while supporting grid resilience.
CONTEXT
What is demand response management?
Demand response management is a smart‑charging strategy that allows electric fleet operators to temporarily adjust their site’s charging activity in response to utility signals. The goal is to ease pressure on the grid during peak‑demand periods while helping fleets lower their energy costs and contribute to overall grid stability.
During extremely hot or cold days, utilities may ask customers to reduce their energy usage for a set number of hours. For electric fleet operators, this means temporarily delaying or intelligently shifting charging activity, without disrupting routes or daily operations.
BENEFITS
Why enroll in an energy management program?
COST SAVINGS
Unlock financial incentives
By enrolling in a peak demand management program, your fleet can earn preferential rates or financial incentives in exchange for charging flexibility. This smart‑charging approach helps lower your electricity costs while rewarding your contribution to grid stability and responsible energy use.
GRID SUPPORT
Strengthen the grid and the energy transition
By shifting your fleet’s charging to more grid‑friendly periods, you help reduce peak demand without impacting daily operations. This support enables greater integration of renewable energy, limits reliance on high‑emission peaker plants in some markets, and helps avoid costly new grid infrastructure. It’s a simple way for electric fleets to play a meaningful role in the clean‑energy transition while optimizing their own charging strategy.
SMART CONNECTIVITY
Let Cleo handle everything
With an intelligent smart‑charging platform like Cleo, participating in a demand management program becomes fully automated and effortless. Cleo leverages industry standards such as OpenADR and OCPP to communicate with utilities and adjust charging in real time, while ensuring your vehicles remain fully available for operations. It’s a seamless, hands‑off way to optimize your energy strategy and maximize program benefits.
Managing fleet power with Hydro‑Québec
In 2024, Hydro‑Québec launched a new demand response management program in partnership with Polara, specifically designed for electric fleets. The pilot is already delivering valuable insights for fleet operators across Quebec: during the 2024–2025 winter season, the 14 peak‑demand events generated between $200 and $400 in incentives per vehicle per event for participating clients.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Answers to your questions about our demand management program
How can demand response management reduce my operating costs ?
Demand response management programs allow your fleet to earn credits on your electricity bill by automatically reducing charging power during grid peak‑demand events. With the Cleo smart‑charging platform, this load curtailment is fully automated and seamless: charging is simply adjusted for the duration of the event, while ensuring your vehicles always have the energy they need for operations.
These incentive programs are available through select utilities such as Hydro‑Québec, BC Hydro, and various energy providers across the United States.
Contact us to find out if a similar program is available in your region.
How does Polara help me enroll in Hydro‑Québec’s demand management program?
The GDP program can be activated directly through your Hydro‑Québec customer account. If Polara is listed as your authorized representative, we can handle the enrollment for you. Once you’re enrolled, your fleet must participate in winter peak‑demand events, this is where having an intelligent charging platform becomes essential.
With Cleo, Polara automates every aspect of load management, ensures your vehicles stay properly charged, and maximizes the incentives you earn. Our support includes eligibility assessment, tariff optimization when needed, platform integration, automated event management, and continuous performance tracking.
At the end of the winter season, once Hydro‑Québec validates your curtailment results, your credit is applied directly to your electricity bill.
What types of fleets can participate in the program?
Demand response management programs are available to virtually all types of commercial electric fleets, including light‑duty vehicles, medium and heavy‑duty trucks, school buses, and specialized vehicles. The larger your EV fleet (and the greater the load curtailment you can provide), the higher the potential credits on your electricity bill.
If your site uses OCPP 1.6+ compatible smart chargers managed through the Cleo smart charging platform, you're eligible to generate credits by contributing to overall grid resilience.
More questions? Let's talk!
Join the program
Contact us to find out which demand response management programs are available in your region.
Financing Programs
Make the most of your electrification journey
Beyond demand management incentives, Polara gives your fleet access to powerful financial levers that accelerate and de‑risk your transition.
With Polara Capital, you can finance up to 100% of your electrification project without tying up your capital.
Join Polara Carbon and generate new revenue streams by monetizing the carbon compliance credits produced by your electric vehicles.
Polara helps you maximize every dollar invested and turn your fleet electrification strategy into a long‑term financial advantage.