New Programs Provide Summer Readiness for Multifamily Communities, Businesses and Public Sector

Last summer, an extended heat wave in California caused unprecedented high energy demand that threatened electricity outages across the state. There was a critical need for reducing energy consumption when the electricity grid came very close to running short on supply. Communities, residents, and businesses responded to alerts to curtail power use during specific periods of time, which made the difference in keeping California powered.

As we prepare for what could be another hot summer prompting strain on power resources and to help customers save money, Clean Power Alliance has launched two new opportunities within its Power Response Program to help residents, property owners, and businesses in Southern California with summer readiness.

Power Response is a demand response program that offers financial incentives to reduce electricity usage during times of higher than projected energy demand. The program features four tracks in which to participate, making it available to all CPA customers so everyone has the chance to save energy and receive incentives.

When energy demand is higher than expected, CPA sends an “Energy Saving Event” alert to enrolled Power Response participants asking to reduce electricity use. Depending on the enrolled program, participants’ devices manually or automatically reduce usage through small setting adjustments that add up over multiple energy saving events in a season.

In January 2022, Power Response Smart Home launched as the first track of CPA’s Power Response program. Smart Home provides financial incentives to residents with eligible smart devices (such as Nest thermostats, ChargePoint EV chargers and others) for enrolling and continuing participation on an annual basis.

Now, qualifying multifamily properties and business customers can easily join energy conservation efforts as enrolled participants of the new Power Response Multifamily Community Program and Power Response Commercial Leaders Program launching this month.

For multifamily properties that meet the affordable eligibility requirements, the Power Response Multifamily Community Program provides residents and property owners smart thermostats and program-specific financial incentives for enrolling and participating in energy saving events. Eligible properties receive $130 per installed device and an annual $30 participation incentive per enrolled device. Residents receive a newly installed smart thermostat, as well as an annual $40 participation incentive. Similarly, businesses and public sector entities can enroll in the Power Response Commercial Leaders program to participate in energy conservation. Under this new opportunity, enrolled businesses collaborate with CPA on a custom energy savings plan and earn depending on size of business and amount of energy conserved during commercial energy saving events.

Residential customers that do not have eligible smart devices but are interested in conserving energy by manually adjusting their device settings can enroll in CPA’s Power Response Home program, which is scheduled to launch later this spring. Active participants will earn $2 for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy saved during an Energy Saving Event. For CARE/FERA customers or customers living in disadvantaged communities, they can earn an additional $20 enrollment incentive.

Participation in these programs provides a strategic opportunity to increase reliability of the electrical grid and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient Southern California.

Anthony Boukarim

Anthony Boukarim serves as Resource Planner, Power Supply, supporting long-term resource planning, portfolio optimization, and procurement strategy to advance CPA’s clean energy, reliability, and affordability objectives. He brings more than a decade of experience in the energy sector, spanning management consulting and advanced energy analytics, with deep expertise supporting utilities and community choice aggregators. Prior to joining CPA, Anthony spent six years at Ascend Analytics, where he led firm-wide renewable energy and storage procurement initiatives. He holds a Master of Science in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut.

Mark Hum

Mark Hum serves as Senior Associate, Communications and Marketing at Clean Power Alliance. He is a marketing and communications strategist with a background in medtech and life sciences, where he supported initiatives spanning multiple industries across both B2B and consumer-facing brands. His work is grounded in a copywriter’s mindset, starting with audience needs and translating complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that build trust and understanding. Mark has led integrated communications across digital, social, email, web, and stakeholder channels, with an emphasis on accessibility, consistency, and measurable impact. He brings a strong appreciation for structure and narrative, ensuring that every message serves a purpose and connects with people in a meaningful way. Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

Pom Saengxuto

Prapassara “Pom” Saengxuto serves as Finance and Accounting Analyst at CPA. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Throughout her career, she has worked across a wide range of industries, including public accounting, private corporations, entertainment, manufacturing, consulting and construction. This diverse background allows her to bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to every engagement. Pom is known for her strong dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. She works effectively both independently and as part of a team, consistently supporting organizations in making informed, strategic financial decisions. Her approach combines technical expertise with a deep sense of responsibility and professionalism.