Oracle Utility Programs Cut Record 1 Gigawatt
Opower demand reduction events across 73 utility programs set a North American record this year.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Utilities
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Utilities running Oracle's Opower programs trimmed a combined 1 gigawatt of peak electricity demand across 73 events in winter and summer seasons. The reduction is a North American record, and roughly 4.3 million customers joined the programs.
Why it matters
Reducing demand at peak times can ease strain on the electric grid without building new generation capacity. The program growth shows how customer participation is becoming a larger part of utility planning.
Utilities cut a combined 1 gigawatt across 73 events, up from 49 events in 2025, with an average of about 16,592 kilowatts saved per event. Participation rose 30% to roughly 4.3 million customers, though the source does not address the programs' long-term savings.
The players
Oracle
Oracle is a multinational technology company whose Opower platform runs utility customer energy programs, and its shares rose 7.04% to $126.30 on the day of the report.
Puget Sound Energy
Puget Sound Energy is a Washington state utility that runs Flex Events demand reduction programs for its customers.
CPS Energy
CPS Energy is the municipally owned utility serving San Antonio, Texas, with nearly one million customers.
The details
Behavioral demand response asks customers to curb electricity use at peak times, while peak time rebates pay customers for reducing use during those periods. Puget Sound Energy reported peak load cuts as large as 16.6 megawatts per event across three seasons and added a 50-cent-per-kilowatt-hour bill credit this year. At CPS Energy in San Antonio, more than a third of nearly one million customers joined events, and a dozen summer events reached nearly 19 megawatts in August.
Timeline
Winter and summer seasons of 2026 saw 73 Opower demand reduction events.
In 2025, utilities held 49 Opower demand reduction events.
In August 2026, CPS Energy's summer events reached nearly 19 megawatts.
Roadmap
Opower's behavioral demand response platform, now running across utility programs, has grown from 49 events in 2025 to 73 events in 2026. The record reduction extends that model's scale, with participation rising from 3.3 million to 4.3 million customers.
Customers who join peak-time programs can receive bill credits, such as Puget Sound Energy's 50 cents per kilowatt-hour credit this year. Reducing use during peak periods is the practical step readers can take to qualify for these incentives where their utility offers them.
The takeaway
Programs that pay or ask customers to shift electricity use at peak times are becoming a larger part of grid management. Customers who check whether their utility offers such programs may be able to lower bills while helping ease demand.
Further reading
For more on how grid operators manage peak loads, see the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Benzinga.
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