September 02, 2026
Energy use isn’t constant throughout the day or year. During hot summer afternoons and cold winter days, homes and businesses often use more electricity than usual to keep occupants comfortable, which increases demand on the electric grid. Managing when energy is used is just as important as reducing overall consumption, helping support a more reliable electric grid and reducing the need for additional energy generation during peak demand periods.
To support these efforts, the Sponsors of Mass Save® offer a program that rewards customers for shifting energy use during periods of high electricity demand. ConnectedSolutions is a demand response program that helps manage electricity demand during periods of peak use in order to support overall grid reliability and efficiency.
This blog explains how ConnectedSolutions allows customers to earn incentives for reducing electricity use during periods of high demand and dives into key topics such as what participation looks like and how these actions support a more reliable system.
Most of us flip a switch and expect the lights to turn on, without thinking much about how electricity gets to our homes and businesses. Behind the scenes, the electric grid is the network that delivers electricity from a variety of sources, including power plants and renewable energy sources, to the places where it’s needed.
The amount of electricity people use changes throughout the day and year. For example, electricity use often increases on hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are running more consistently or during cold winter weather when heating needs are greater. To keep homes and businesses powered reliably, the grid must be able to meet these changing energy needs.
When many people are using electricity at the same time, demand on the grid increases. These periods, often called “peak demand” periods, can put added strain on the electric system. That’s why programs that help manage energy use during these times can play an important role in supporting reliable electric service while helping customers earn incentives for their participation.
Demand response is a way to help manage electricity use during periods when demand on the electric grid is high. Rather than reducing energy use all the time, participating homes and businesses make small, temporary adjustments during these periods and may earn incentives for doing so.
These adjustments are typically planned in advance and are designed to be short-term, not permanent changes to daily routines or operations. Depending on the technology being used, demand response actions may include adjusting thermostat settings, shifting certain activities to another time of day, or using technology that can automatically reduce energy use when demand is highest.
By reducing or shifting energy use during peak periods, participants can help support a reliable electric grid while making the most of the energy technologies they already use.
Offered through the electric Mass Save Sponsors, including Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid and Unitil, ConnectedSolutions is a demand response program that helps reduce electricity demand during times when energy use is expected to be especially high. Here’s a simple look at how participation works:
Many participants use automated technologies, such as smart thermostats, that make participation simple and convenient. These short-term adjustments are designed to minimize disruption to daily routines while allowing customers to earn incentives and help support a reliable electric grid.
Many Massachusetts residents and businesses can participate in ConnectedSolutions and receive incentives for helping to reduce demand on the electric grid during periods of high energy use.
Participation varies based on factors such as the equipment installed at a property, energy usage patterns, and the ability to make temporary adjustments during periods of high electricity demand.
By participating in ConnectedSolutions, customers can earn incentives while getting more value from the technologies they already use:
Visit the residential or commercial ConnectedSolutions pages to learn more, explore eligibility requirements, and get started.
As electricity needs continue to change, demand response will remain an important tool for supporting a reliable and efficient electric grid. Through ConnectedSolutions, eligible customers play a role in these efforts and get rewarded for helping ensure energy is used more effectively during periods of peak demand while supporting a more resilient energy future.
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