Price Mitigation
Real-time energy market monitoring with automated curtailment in 8 seconds — protecting your facilities from the catastrophic cost spikes that define modern deregulated energy markets.
8 sec
Curtailment Response Time
24/7
Real-Time Market Monitoring
All US ISOs
Integrated Market Coverage
The Problem
Energy Markets Can Spike to Thousands of Dollars Per MWh in Minutes
Deregulated energy markets like ERCOT in Texas experience extreme and sudden price volatility. During periods of high demand, low renewable generation, or grid stress events, real-time prices can escalate from normal levels of $30–$50 per MWh to the market cap of $5,000 per MWh or beyond — within minutes.
Commercial facilities on variable-rate or indexed electricity contracts are fully exposed to these price spikes. A single event lasting just a few hours can generate an electricity bill many times higher than a normal month. Without real-time response capability, there is no way to avoid this exposure.
Manual monitoring and response is simply not viable. By the time a facilities manager sees an alert, calls a colleague, and triggers any kind of curtailment, thousands of dollars of exposure have already accumulated.
Typical Price Spike Progression
Illustrative price progression during scarcity events in deregulated energy markets. Actual prices, durations, and cap levels vary by ISO and are subject to regulatory change.
Without Price Mitigation:
Price spikes typically last 5–15 minutes but can occur multiple times during a single grid stress event. Even brief exposure at scarcity pricing can add thousands of dollars to a facility's energy costs — costs that are entirely avoidable with automated curtailment in place.
The Solution
Automated Protection That Acts Before You Even See the Alert
DemandQ's Price Mitigation service continuously monitors real-time market prices. When prices exceed your configured strike price, automated curtailment activates within 8 seconds — protecting your facilities from price exposure while the patented IDO queuing technology maintains occupant comfort throughout the event.
Always Watching
Price feeds are monitored continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The system never sleeps, never misses a spike, and never requires a human to act first.
Configurable Thresholds
Each site configures its own strike price. You decide at what market price level curtailment activates — giving you precise control over the cost/comfort tradeoff for each facility.
Equipment-Safe Cycling
Cycling health tracking ensures curtailment events do not over-cycle equipment. The system respects manufacturer-defined safe operating limits, protecting your HVAC assets.
How It Works
From Market Signal to Protected Facility in 8 Seconds
- 01
Continuous Market Price Feed
DemandQ's Price Mitigation engine maintains a live connection to energy market price feeds. Real-time locational marginal prices are ingested every few seconds and compared against configured thresholds.
- 02
Strike Price Threshold Crossed
When a market price exceeds the configured strike price for a facility, the automated curtailment sequence is triggered immediately. No manual intervention is required — and none would be fast enough.
- 03
8-Second Curtailment Activation
Within 8 seconds of threshold crossing, DemandQ activates load curtailment across the facility. HVAC and other controlled loads are queued using the same patented IDO technology — maintaining comfort during the curtailment period.
- 04
Equipment Health Tracking
Cycling health monitoring tracks every start and stop event for each controlled unit. The system dynamically adjusts cycling frequency to stay within manufacturer-safe operating ranges, preventing long-term wear.
- 05
Price Recovery and Reporting
When market prices return below the strike price, controlled loads resume normal operation through a managed recovery sequence. Full event logs, price exposure avoided, and energy cost savings are documented for each event.
Key Benefits
Complete Protection from Market Price Exposure
Real-Time Price Monitoring
DemandQ continuously monitors live market prices across every US ISO. The system tracks real-time locational marginal prices (LMPs) and day-ahead price signals around the clock.
8-Second Response
When market prices cross a configured strike price threshold, DemandQ's automated curtailment activates within 8 seconds — far faster than any manual response can achieve. Speed is everything in volatile markets.
Equipment Health Protection
Cycling health tracking monitors cumulative start/stop cycles for every controlled unit. The system prevents over-cycling that causes premature equipment wear, protecting HVAC assets while managing market exposure.
Integrated with Every US ISO
DemandQ is integrated with every US Independent System Operator (ISO), including ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, CAISO, MISO, and SPP — ensuring compliant, reliable market interaction wherever your facilities operate.
Configurable Strike Prices
Each facility sets its own strike price — the market price threshold at which curtailment activates. Strike prices can be tuned by time of day, season, or operational profile to match each building's risk tolerance.
Market Protection in Practice
Speed, Precision, and Equipment Care
8 Seconds
Curtailment Response Time
From strike price breach to active curtailment — faster than any manual process and faster than most automated alternatives.
Configurable
Per-Site Strike Price
Each facility independently configures the price threshold at which automated curtailment activates, matching each building's risk tolerance and operational requirements.
Protected
Equipment Health
Cycling health tracking ensures every unit stays within safe operating parameters — protecting capital assets while managing market exposure.
Integrated with Every US ISO
DemandQ is integrated with every US Independent System Operator — including ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, ISO-NE, CAISO, MISO, and SPP — providing nationwide market coverage.
Learn More in the DemandLab
Navigating the Electric Energy Market
Understand how deregulated energy markets work, what causes extreme price spikes, and how commercial facilities can protect themselves from volatility.
Understanding Electric Demand
Learn the difference between demand charges and energy charges, and why managing both is essential to controlling your total electricity cost.
Complete Your Strategy
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Ready to Reduce Your Energy Costs?
If your facilities are exposed to volatile energy market pricing, every day without Price Mitigation is a day of unmanaged risk. Request a demo to see how DemandQ protects your portfolio.