By Howard Plante, Vice President of Procurement

As energy demand rises seasonally across the PJM Interconnection, it’s crucial to reduce electricity consumption during peak grid stress periods to manage future capacity costs. Freedom Energy Logistics monitors PJM grid conditions and sends alerts ahead of potential 5 Coincident Peak (5CP) hours, enabling clients to take preventative action and optimize annual energy budgets.

What Is the PJM Peak Notification Program?

The PJM Peak Notification Program is an energy management initiative designed to help businesses and organizations respond proactively to periods of high electricity demand on the PJM Interconnection grid. PJM Interconnection is the regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity across much of the eastern United States. By participating in this program, you can stay informed about upcoming peak demand events and take action to reduce electricity usage, ultimately helping to lower costs and support grid reliability.

Understanding the 5 Annual Peaks

Each year, PJM identifies the five highest one-hour intervals of electricity demand, referred to as the “5 Coincident Peaks” or “5CP.” Your organization’s energy usage during these peak hours directly influences your future capacity charges. By reducing consumption during these critical periods, you can lower your capacity costs for the following year and contribute to a more stable energy grid.

How the Program Works

  • Advance Notifications: Freedom Energy’s PJM Peak Notification Program operates by alerting participants in advance of projected high-demand periods. Participants receive timely email and/or text notifications when PJM forecasts a potential peak demand event. These notifications typically occur on the hottest or coldest days of the year, when energy consumption is at its highest.
  • Actionable Alerts: During these times, PJM—the regional transmission organization (RTO)—identifies and communicates when electricity demand is expected to reach its highest levels. Participants receive notifications from Freedom Energy allowing them to voluntarily reduce or shift their energy usage, which helps manage overall grid reliability and can result in significant cost savings. Our notifications include guidance on when and how to adjust your energy use. By reducing consumption during these critical periods, you can help decrease overall demand and potentially minimize your peak capacity charges.
  • Simple Participation: Joining Freedom Energy’s Peak Notification Program is easy and at No Cost. Once enrolled, you will begin receiving alerts by email and/or text depending on your preference.

Why Participate in PJM Peak Notifications?

Reducing usage during PJM’s 5 Coincident Peak hours delivers meaningful financial and operational benefits:

Benefit Impact
Lower Capacity Costs Reduce your usage during peak hours → lower charges next year
Improve Grid Reliability Helps maintain system stability during demand spikes
Support Sustainability Goals Demonstrates responsible energy stewardship
No Cost to Join Completely free to enroll and participate

Who Should Enroll?

Ideal for organizations with controllable or shiftable loads, including:

  • Manufacturers + industrial facilities
  • Municipal buildings + schools
  • Colleges + hospitals
  • Data centers
  • Commercial real estate

If your operations can temporarily reduce or shift non-critical usage → you can save significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I don’t reduce my usage during a peak event?

If you do not decrease your energy consumption during a peak alert, you may experience higher capacity charges on your future bills.

Will my operations be disrupted?

The program is flexible — you can choose how and when to reduce usage, focusing on non-essential systems or rescheduling certain activities.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no fee to join Freedom Energy’s PJM Peak Notification Program — and the potential savings can be substantial.

Take control of your energy costs and support a reliable grid by joining the PJM Peak Notification Program today!


Sign Up for PJM Peak Notifications