JORDAN, MN and BROOKLYN, NY, March 19, 2013 – Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) announced today that it will launch a new residential demand response program this summer using Wi-Fi communicating thermostats and EnergyHub’s Mercury demand response software platform.

The initial deployment is planned for 1,000 Wi-Fi thermostats, and participating co-op members will have the choice of professional installation or installing the thermostat themselves. Participating members will also have access to EnergyHub’s award-winning web and mobile (iPhone, iPad, and Android) applications for remote thermostat control and management, as well as efficiency features such as Radius™, which can use smartphone locations to automatically put customers’ thermostats in energy-saving “Away” mode.

MVEC will use the demand response management capabilities of EnergyHub’s Mercury platform to decrease its overall power demand during peak periods. MVEC currently has over 15,000 homes and businesses enrolled in load control programs, and the Wi-Fi thermostat program is one of several recent innovative load management initiatives instituted by MVEC to help reduce overall costs for its members.

“We chose the Mercury platform for its ease of use and for the customer appeal of its web and mobile apps,” said Ryan Hentges, VP of Corporate Services at MVEC. “EnergyHub’s Mercury DRMS is both powerful and straightforward, and it will help us serve our members by curtailing peak power demand.”

“EnergyHub is excited to work with MVEC to expand their demand response initiatives to include Wi-Fi thermostats,” said Seth Frader-Thompson, CEO of EnergyHub. “Mercury is a great fit for cooperatives that want to deploy demand response technology that also provides their members with real value.”

With this deployment, MVEC joins the nearly 20 utilities across North America who have selected EnergyHub’s products and services for demand response and energy efficiency programs. With similar recent deployments at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and Mid-South Synergy, EnergyHub’s Mercury platform is helping electric cooperatives bring modern, two-way technology to their demand response programs while also providing benefits to participating members through its remote thermostat control and energy efficiency features.

About EnergyHub
EnergyHub develops software and hardware solutions that help consumers, utilities, and service providers reduce energy consumption and save money. EnergyHub solutions allow homeowners to understand and control energy use in real time and encourage people to take actionable steps to reduce consumption. Utilities also benefit from EnergyHub technology as it enables them to identify and manage peak loads, implement effective demand response programs, and improve operating efficiency. For more information on how EnergyHub can help you and your customers realize savings through energy efficiency and peak load reductions visit www.energyhub.com or email smartgrid@energyhub.com.

About MVEC
Based in Jordan, MN, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative is a local, member-owned electric distribution cooperative. Established in 1937, MVEC is not-for-profit, and all margins are returned to the co-op’s members in the form of Capital Credits. MVEC has over 35,000 members, and its service area covers nine Minnesota counties. For more information visit www.mvec.net.