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Terms and Conditions:

ClimateResponse® VPP Residential and Small Business Participants

(Last Updated: June 1, 2026)

Residential and small business participants in ClimateResponse® VPP are subject to the following terms and conditions:

  1. ELIGIBILITY: California residential or small business utility customers who are not enrolled in other utility or third-party Demand Response (DR) programs are eligible to participate in ClimateResponse VPP. Residential and Small Business utility customers are defined as utility account holders for buildings where the maximum monthly electric loads are less than 20 kW. Customers enrolled in any non-ClimateResponse programs must disenroll prior to enrolling in ClimateResponse VPP. Limit one enrollment per service account.
  2. TECHNOLOGY: ClimateResponse® VPP does not require any specific technology for participation. All participants are able to participate behaviorally by responding to a ClimateResponse Event and taking actions to reduce energy use during ClimateResponse Events. However, to receive incentive payments, the participant must have certain technology installed on their premises (see Section 9).
  3. SMART METER: The service account being enrolled in ClimateResponse VPP must be serviced by a utility-approved smart meter that monitors energy usage at 15-minute intervals. (Note: most households in California have such smart meters)
  4. COMMITMENT: Participation is voluntary. During a ClimateResponse Event the participant will be asked to reduce their energy usage as much as possible, but will not be penalized if they are unable to do so. For eligible participants, the incentive payment is based upon the amount of energy reduction (see Section 9).
  5. ENROLLMENT: Residential and small business utility customers can enroll through a URL provided by ClimateResponse or a customer’s technology provider, or by downloading the ClimateResponse App on your smartphone through the Apple Store or Google Play Store, or on the web-based version of the app at www.app.climateresponse.com, or via the app of an approved 3rd party technology partner of ClimateResponse (https://www.climateresponse.com/technology-partners/). Enrollment in ClimateResponse VPP requires participants to agree to the terms and conditions, as well as the ClimateResponse VPP Participation Agreement. Enrollment in this program is not complete until confirmed by ClimateResponse.
  6. EVENTS: Participating customers will receive event notifications prior to an event which will be sent by ClimateResponse via the ClimateResponse App, a partner’s app, email and/or by SMS text, at the participant’s discretion.
  7. EVENT TRIGGERS: ClimateResponse Events will be triggered at the discretion of ClimateResponse for one or more of the following reasons:
    1. CAISO Energy Emergency Alerts and Flex Alerts
    2. A utility system emergency or near-emergency for distribution service
    3. High local greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
    4. High wholesale energy prices
    5. CAISO market award
    6. Extreme weather
    7. Poor local air quality
    8. Event testing
  8. EVENT INFORMATION:
    1. ClimateResponse VPP participants will be notified of events by 9 PM the day before the event.
    2. ClimateResponse Events are called for a minimum of 1 hour and maximum of 4 hours.
    3. A ClimateResponse Grid Emergency Event may be called in addition to regular ClimateResponse Events and are not subject to the above limitations. These will be called in response to a CAISO Energy Emergency Alert, or a utility system emergency or near-emergency for distribution service. Grid Emergency Events may overlap with or be in different hours of the day from regular ClimateResponse Events. Grid Emergency Events are subject to the following limitations.
      • Grid Emergency Events will typically be notified the day before but same-day notification is possible.
      • Grid Emergency Events will be for a minimum of 1 hour and maximum of 5 hours between 4 and 9 PM.
      • Grid Emergency Events may end early.
  9. PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES:
    Eligibility for Incentive Payments A participant is eligible to receive an incentive payment if they:
    (a) have a controllable device controlled by ClimateResponse or one of our official partners (https://www.climateresponse.com/technology-partners/); and
    (b) have a valid, continuing authorized meter data sharing agreement (e.g., Green Button Connect) with ClimateResponse from enrollment until payment. Incentive Payment Amounts Eligible participants will receive incentives in the following amounts based upon their average load drop during all ClimateResponse Events called during the participant’s calculated program year:
    Average Event Load Drop Incentive Payment
    Between 0.5 kW and 1 kW $25
    Between 1 kW and 1.5 kW $50
    Over 1.5 kW $75
    Program Year Definition A participant’s initial program year begins on the date of enrollment and lasts until the first December 31 or June 30 on which the participant has had 9 months of participation. (Note this means that the initial program year may last anywhere from 9 to 15 months.) Subsequent program years last for 12 months.

    Therefore:
    • Enrollment between October 1 – March 31st: Program year ends on December 31
    • Enrollment between April 1 – September 30th: Program year ends on June 30 Incentive Payment Date and Method Incentives will be paid within 30 days of the end of the participant’s program year. Incentives will be paid via Tango Card to participants email address on record with ClimateResponse.
  10. INSTALLATION COSTS: If the participant is installing equipment to participate in the program, the participant is solely responsible for the cost of purchasing and installing the equipment. ClimateResponse will not pay for installation costs or for any upgrades to the participant’s electrical system required for installation of any equipment. The participant is responsible for hiring a qualified professional to estimate the cost of installation, obtain any necessary permits and install the equipment, and obtain any federal, state, or local incentives.
  11. PARTICIPATION COSTS: Enrollment and participation in ClimateResponse VPP is free of charge.
  12. PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL: Customers may withdraw from ClimateResponse VPP at any time after the first 12 months of participation without penalty by emailing ask@climateresponse.com.
  13. UPDATES: These terms and conditions may be updated by ClimateResponse at any time with email notice to participants. The current set of terms and conditions applicable to ClimateResponse residential and small business participants will always be available at https://www.climateresponse.com/terms-and-conditions/. If you disagree with the new terms and conditions, you may withdraw from ClimateResponse VPP by contacting ClimateResponse at ask@climateresponse.com. A participant’s continued enrollment in ClimateResponse VPP reflects their acceptance of any new terms and conditions.

For more information, contact ask@climateresponse.com or visit the program website at www.climateresponse.com.