Up to six times a month, you will have the opportunity to earn a credit on your electricity bill by reducing your energy use, typically between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. A Peak Rewards Alert will let you know the date and time frame usually 24 hours in advance.
| Winter (November – April) | $0.50 per kWh reduced |
| Summer (May – October) | $1.00 per kWh reduced |
If there is a grid emergency, you may receive a multiplier for your savings. The amount multiplied will be on the Alert.
Your savings are calculated based on your energy usage over previous weeks – so the less energy you use, the more you save! A typical air conditioner can use between 1-4 kWhs every hour, similar to an electric stove, while a dishwasher can use up to 3 kWhs per load.
There is no penalty if you do not reduce your energy use. Within a couple of days, you will receive a text or email showing your energy savings (if any) and payout amount. Any savings will be paid out quarterly.
Maximize your savings with these energy-saving tips:
Need more tips? Email peak-rewards@sanjoseca.gov or call (844) 326-5217.
SJCE has a partnership with Uplight to run the Peak Rewards for All program. To participate, please create a FlexSaver account. The FlexSaver portal will send notifications for Peak Rewards Alerts and allow you to track results moving forward. You must use an email when enrolling and choose email and/or SMS notifications.
Questions? Check out our FAQ below or contact us at peak-rewards@sanjoseca.gov or (844) 326-5217.
How do I enroll? Un-enroll?
Sign up here. You can also unenroll at any time by contacting the program at (844) 326-5217 or by emailing peak-rewards@sanjoseca.gov.
How can I refer a friend to participate in Peak Rewards?
To encourage others, including family and friends, to join Peak Rewards, simply log in to your FlexSaver account. Once logged in, click on “Refer a Friend” on the left side of the page. Copy your referral code and share it with your friends! You can also track your referrals.
Here are some things you can use to encourage them to sign up:
Can I enroll my smart devices and appliances like smart thermostats, batteries, and heat pump water heaters in Peak Rewards for All?
Currently, Peak Rewards does not support enrollment of smart technologies, but we are working on it! Soon we will be launching Peak Rewards for Smart Homes in which you will be able to enroll some of these. First, we will be rolling out enrollment of smart EV chargers and EV telematics, then we’ll be adding support for smart thermostats and batteries. Finally, we plan to add support for heat pump water heaters, smart plugs, and pool pumps. Keep an eye out for marketing from us in the coming months as we roll out these options.
How do I know if I have a PG&E Smart Meter?
If you pay your own PG&E bill, it’s very likely that you have a PG&E Smart Meter already installed. To be sure, you can locate the meter outside your home. Smart Meters typically have a digital display and will be labeled.
Do my rewards expire?
Rewards do not expire and will be applied to your PG&E bill following every Peak Rewards season. However, if you received a prepaid MasterCard® for a referral or signup reward, the card itself may have an expiration date, which is usually 6 months after redeeming. You can request a 6-month extension before it expires by contacting the support linked in the prepaid MasterCard® email.
Who is Uplight?
Uplight is San José Clean Energy’s implementer for the Peak Rewards Program. They host the FlexSaver portal where you can see your results and send out all Peak Rewards Alerts and notifications. They also work with dozens of partners to ensure we can support as many of your smart devices as possible in our program.
Why would I choose Peak Rewards over a program like PG&E’s power saver rewards?
The Peak Rewards Program allows you to have a positive impact on your local community. It is designed to provide value to the residents and businesses in San José. Peak Rewards has a lower threshold for determining when to call an energy-saving event than the PG&E Power Saver Rewards Program, meaning that if a PG&E Power Saver Rewards event is called, it’s very likely that there will also be a Peak Rewards Alert issued, and you will not miss out on value. There will also be a lot more opportunities to participate during the year so you can earn additional rewards.
How much can I earn for reducing my energy use?
Your rewards are based on the amount of energy reductions you achieve. However, these reductions may be worth more during certain times of the year. Under Peak Rewards for All, you can earn $0.50 per kilowatt hour reduced during the ‘Winter Season’ (November-April). During the ‘Summer Season’ (May-October) you may be able to earn $1.00 per kilowatt hour reduced. There may also be times during the year when you can earn even more, like during an event that coincides with a state grid emergency.
Always keep an eye on your event notifications. We will let you know in advance of each event how much you can earn for your reductions that day.
What is Peak Rewards?
Peak Rewards is San José Clean Energy’s (SJCE) demand response program. SJCE will pay you to reduce energy use on a few times per month, usually during peak times. An Alert may be triggered for a specific time to prevent stress on the electricity grid. Stress on the grid is generally caused by high demand or short supply and can lead to reduced grid reliability or, in the most dire cases, rotating outages. Currently, participants can only enroll in the program through the behavioral option: Peak Rewards for All.
What is Peak Rewards for All?
Peak Rewards for All is the behavioral option under the Peak Rewards Program. Customers enrolled in Peak Rewards for All can earn rewards by manually turning off lights, electric appliances, or unplugging energy loads throughout the home during a handful of high usage hours each month as specified by Peak Rewards Alerts.
Who can sign up?
Any SJCE residential customer with an active PG&E smart meter who lives in San José can sign up for Peak Rewards for All. You must also be able to receive alerts via email or SMS texting.
How and when will I be notified about a Peak Rewards opportunity?
Peak Rewards Alerts can be delivered through email, text, or both depending on your preference. When you sign up for Peak Rewards for All, you are automatically defaulted into email notifications. You can change your preferences to SMS by logging onto your Peak Rewards FlexSaver portal.
In most cases, you will have 24-hours prior notice. During grid emergencies, you may have shorter notice.
When will I get paid for Peak Rewards?
Any sign-up bonuses or referral bonuses for Peak Rewards will be provided within 4-6 weeks upon acceptance of your enrollment. They will be in the form of an electronic prepaid MasterCard® emailed to you at the email provided at the time of enrollment.
Rewards earned throughout the season for responding to Peak Rewards Alerts will be applied as bill credits on your PG&E electricity bills on a quarterly basis. The credits will typically be applied within 4-6 weeks of the quarter end. Depending on your billing cycle, your Peak Rewards credits may take a little longer to show up. If you received a notification for earned credits from SJCE and more than 3 months have passed, please contact peak-rewards@sanjoseca.gov or 844-326-5217.
Can I also be enrolled in other demand response programs like OhmConnect, Voltus, or a PG&E Program?
No, your account can only be enrolled in one demand response program at a time. To participate in Peak Rewards, you must unenroll from any other demand response programs. If you need help unenrolling from your current program, reach out to your current program provider.
What if I do not save energy during the time specified by the Peak Rewards Alert?
There are no penalties for not saving energy, but you will not earn any credits for that event.
What if I don’t want to participate during the time specified by the Peak Rewards Alert?
There are no penalties for not saving energy, but you will not earn any credits for that event. You will have more opportunities to participate in future events. If you do not plan to respond to any future Peak Rewards Alerts, we recommend you let us know at peak-rewards@sanjoseca.gov so that we can unenroll you from the program.
What if I can only save energy for a portion of the time specified by the Peak Rewards Alert?
SJCE calculates savings based on usage during the timeframe specified in the Peak Rewards Alert. If you save overall during an event, you will receive a payout. If you don’t save, there is no penalty.
