NORCROSS, Ga., Feb. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comverge, Inc., the leading provider of Intelligent Energy Management solutions for Residential and Commercial & Industrial (C&I) customers, today announced that it will continue providing demand response and energy efficiency services in Northern California. With more than 30 years' experience in the demand response industry, Comverge has helped thousands of C&I customers across North America, in industries including manufacturing, healthcare and education, optimize their participation in demand response and energy efficiency programs.

Comverge was awarded a contract through December 31, 2014 to continue to help C&I energy users participate in the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) demand response programs. To help customers successfully participate in the programs, Comverge's team of highly-skilled energy engineers provide a holistic assessment of a customer's energy assets and facility management. This enables Comverge to develop a customized approach that maximizes each customer's participation in the program, while minimizing the impact on ongoing operations.

"The new contract builds on our extensive experience partnering with C&I energy users to help them successfully participate in PG&E demand response programs," said Steve Moffitt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Comverge. "The PG&E programs are designed to be both fiscally and environmentally responsible ways to respond to occasional and temporary peak demand periods. We look forward to continuing to help our existing and future customers from a range of industries develop customized strategies to maximize their program participation."

By partnering with Comverge, C&I energy users can quickly and easily participate in one or several of the following PG&E programs:

• Aggregator Managed Portfolio (AMP) - A non-tariff program that consists of bilateral contracts with aggregators to provide PG&E with price-responsive demand response.
• Capacity Bidding Program (CBP) - Provides a monthly incentive for C&I energy users to reduce energy use by a pre-determined amount once an electric-resource generation facility reaches or exceeds heat rates of 15,000 Btu (British thermal units) per kWh. Load reduction commitment is on a month-by-month basis, with nominations made five days prior to the beginning of each month.
• Base Interruptible Program (BIP) - Pays C&I energy users an incentive to reduce their facility's load to or below a level that they have pre-selected. This pre-selected level is called the Firm Service Level (FSL).
• Demand Bidding Program (DBP) - Pays C&I energy users an incentive to reduce electric load when notified of a demand response event day by PG&E. This is a relatively low-risk demand response program that allows C&I energy users to submit load reduction bids for a DBP event, which can be called on a day-ahead or day-of basis. For any event, C&I energy users may elect to submit or not submit a bid. If a bid is submitted, C&I energy users can still choose to forgo reducing their electric load without penalty.
• Peak Day Pricing (PDP) - Receive credits for electricity use between May 1 and October 31. Customers that conserve electricity during high-demand hours and Peak Day Pricing Event hours (nine to fifteen between May and October) can save money on overall electric bills.

PG&E administers the program and it is funded by California utility customers under the guidance of the California Public Utilities Commission. The Comverge contract to provide C&I demand response and energy efficiency services in Northern California has received public utility commission approval.

About Comverge

Comverge delivers a comprehensive suite of intelligent energy management solutions that enable utilities, grid operators, and commercial and industrial organizations to optimize their energy usage in order to reduce costs, meet regulatory requirements, and support sustainability initiatives. With 30 years of experience helping customers implement innovative Demand-Side Management programs, Comverge has deployed more than five and a half million energy management devices, recruited over one million residential customers into mass market demand response programs, and served thousands of commercial & industrial customers. For more information, visit www.comverge.com and follow us on Twitter at @Comverge.

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For Additional Information
Jason Cigarran
Vice President,
Corporate Marketing and Communications
Comverge, Inc.
678-823-6784