The Current by CPower publishes news and insights from the people shaping our clean energy future. Explore trends, understand policy drivers and learn about innovation that is enabling the Customer-Powered Grid®.
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PJM Battery Storage Update 2026: Turn Peaks into Profit
CPower’s 2026 Energy Trends Forecast: Virtual Power Plants Go from Advantage to Imperative
New York State of the Market: Navigate Demand Response Changes and Unlock Participation Opportunities
Accelerating Speed to Power and Unlocking Innovation with Virtual Power Plants
Aging Controls Block Demand Response Revenue
The Latest from the US open energy markets
CPower’s 2026 Energy Trends Forecast: Virtual Power Plants Go from Advantage to Imperative
As the U.S. grid braces for another year of rapid load growth, the conversation around energy flexibility is shifting from possibility to necessity. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) and demand response are assuming larger roles, not...
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Aging Controls Block Demand Response Revenue
We’re excited to have our technology partner Energy IQ contribute this guest column for The Current. As 2026 capital plans take shape, one issue keeps showing up in industrial and...
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EPA’s Backup Generators Clarification Explained – And What it Means for the 50-Hour Rule for Demand Response
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recent interpretation on using emergency backup generators in demand response programs does not change the existing prohibition in United States wholesale markets, such as PJM....
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PJM’s Frequency Regulation Update: What Do the Changes Mean for Large Energy Users?
Today, PJM, North America’s largest grid operator covering DC and 13 states across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, updated the design of Frequency Regulation. Frequency Regulation is part of PJM’s ancillary...
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Building Power Supply Isn’t the Only Way to Win the AI Race
The “AI Race” is seen as this decade’s Space Race: a signal of American leadership and competitiveness globally, and a key priority of the Trump administration. There are significant economic...
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AI, Data Centers and the Grid’s “Holy Grail” – Here are 4 Takeaways on Demand Response from GridFuture
While demand response has long played a vital role in energy management, its importance was on full display at CPower’s GridFuture 2025, hosted in Washington, DC, in early August, as...
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The Need for Virtual Power Plants Heats Up When the Weather Cools Down
*This article first appeared on Environment+Energy Leader on Feb. 25, 2025. Click here to view. As a blast of Arctic air swept through the U.S. on Jan. 22, PJM’s winter...
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CPower Execs Predict 2025 Energy Trends
The energy industry faces uncertainty as 2025 draws near but key trends and issues provide some predictability. For instance, as in 2024, demand for electricity will accelerate while generation capacity...
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Beyond Backup Power: How Energy Storage Optimizes the Grid and Reduces Energy Costs
We’re excited to have our technology partner Lithion Battery contribute this guest column for The Current. Large energy users like commercial and industrial customers have long benefited from backup batteries...
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Arizona Public Service (APS) Customers Benefit from Helping the Grid
APS and CPower recently presented a ‘big check’ for $84,417.25 to Royal Paper for its participation in the APS Peak Solutions demand response program. (L to R – Bruce Brazis,...
Read moreWebinars
PJM Battery Storage Update 2026: Turn Peaks into Profit
The Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) landscape in PJM is rapidly evolving, unlocking new value and revenue streams for developers and operators. Watch this webinar session on the economics of...
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New York State of the Market: Navigate Demand Response Changes and Unlock Participation Opportunities
New York’s electricity demand is rising due to electrification and the retirement of older power plants. Virtual Power Plants and Demand Response (DR) programs are critical to keeping the grid...
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Accelerating Speed to Power and Unlocking Innovation with Virtual Power Plants
Flexing data center load through demand response and virtual power plants (VPPs) provides a proven, fast and cost-effective way to power the innovative energy economy. In an interview with Data...
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Unlock Revenue Through Energy Flexibility Today, Get Ready for SB6’s Impact on Large Load Participation Tomorrow
Texas Senate Bill 6 (SB-6) is reshaping the energy landscape for large-load customers. With new rules around interconnection, backup generation and load curtailment, SB-6 isn’t just about compliance—it’s about opportunity....
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PJM State of the Market Part 2: Combating PJM Capacity Price Hikes: Strategies to Earn Back On-Bill Costs in 2025
With demand response prices in PJM at record highs—and nine times more than just a year ago—stacking flexible programs pays faster and greater than peak demand management. In the Winter...
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How to Unlock Value from Your Stranded Distributed Generation Assets
This webinar examines strategies and technologies that help distributed energy resource (DER) owners and operators expand their portfolios by optimizing monetization opportunities and maximizing project returns. Learn how DERs deliver...
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