Demand response tools can be money savers for many utilities and their consumers, because they reduce the amount of energy used during peak times, reducing fees consumers pay for their peak power demand. Flattening out electricity use during peak hours can help keep rates lower by reducing the need for utilities to purchase more costly market energy to meet periods of higher demand. Ongoing consumer participation in demand response projects also can reduce the likelihood of potential "brown outs" and other disruptions during periods of peak energy use.
For the region, demand response can ease strain on the federal hydro system. Electricity use is growing, as are operational demands to protect fish runs and to integrate variable resources such as wind.