Yes. At this point in the program, we are only able to accept residential members who have a qualifying Generac® home back-up generator. We’re working on options for non-Generac branded units for the future.

At this time, we’re only accepting Generac brand home stand-by generators into our program. That’s because our current system can only send the “turn off/turn on” signals to Generac units when we need it to pick up the load in your home. We’re working with other brands to be able to send them signals as well. Watch for communications from your electric co-op that we’re ready to accept other generators into this program.

We’re not currently accepting back-up batteries in this program, but it is part of our roadmap. Please watch for communications from your electric co-op that we’re ready to accept batteries into this program.

We have software that will call on the participating generators to be activated. This software also monitors the participating units in real time to ensure the program is working as intended. The software also logs which generators are active during the event, and which generators opted out. We need this information to ensure that the program is functioning as intended.

No, we won’t put anything on your generator.  If your generator is eligible to participate in our program by being Smart Grid Ready and has a connection to the internet, we can activate it and know how long it runs when we call on it.

If you have a switch on your A/C and/or water heater, you must unenroll from those programs before you can enroll in this home back-up generator program. Your electric co-op can help you with that process. Because the backup generator is removing the home’s entire load from the grid, there is no benefit to also participate in an A/C and/or Water Heater program.

Some of the co-ops offering the Power Shift+ program are working with local Generac dealers to offer discounts on equipment purchases. Please contact your electric co-op to ask if they offer this service or can give you names of preferred installers in your area.

Participation in this program is voluntary and you can opt out at any time. However, to receive the seasonal incentive, you must allow your generator to run for at least 80% of the hours that we ask it to run each season. If we do not have a reason to call on your generator to run that season, but it was connected to the internet and available to run, we will still pay the seasonal incentive.

No, only the hours that we ask your generator to run will count toward your participation in this program. We will only be dispatching your generator during times of very elevated loads or during grid emergencies declared by the Regional Transmission Operator.

Incentives are paid after we verify that your generator participated in at least 80% of the hours we called on it that season, or we verify that it was available to run even if we didn’t call on it. Please allow us 8 weeks from the end of season to process your incentive from that season.

Seasonal incentives will be paid to you by your electric co-op either in the form of a physical check or bill credit. Please ask your co-op which method they have chosen to use.

Participation in this program is voluntary and you can opt out of an event or the entire program at any time.

• To opt out of an event when your generator is running, simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the Generac app for opting out.
• To unenroll from the program entirely, please send a written request to be removed from the program to the energy advisor at your electric co-op. You may send the request via e-mail if you choose.
• Please note, if you opt out of more than 20% of the event hours or unenroll from the program, you may forfeit any incentive for that season.

• Winter = December, January and February
• Spring = March, April and May
• Summer = June, July and August
• Fall = September, October and November

Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA) will be using software to communicate with the Generac generators enrolled in the PowerShift+ program. When WVPA determines energy prices are sufficiently elevated, or a Regional Transmission Operator declares a local grid emergency, WVPA will use that software to communicate (or call on) to the generator when to begin generating electricity, disconnect from the grid, and, after the event is done, reconnect to the grid.

An event is a period of time when a demand resource, such as a water heater, air conditioner, or, in this case, generator is used to help provide relief to the electric grid. An event can be called either due to elevated demand, or, due to an emergency called by a Regional Transmission Operator.

It’s simply a test to verify that WVPA can communicate with your generator. We’ll do at least one test event per year to make sure your generator is connected to the internet and measure how much energy was offset from the grid by your generator.

A test event can be called at any time and should cause your household no disruption. It is our plan to provide a notice prior to any test event.

No. Your generator should run its normal maintenance checks as scheduled. It could be that we call a test event or a real event that would overlap your scheduled maintenance test. In that case, the test event or real event would serve as your maintenance test to show Generac that your unit is functioning normally.

No. This is a demand response program that helps your co-op and its power provider (Wabash Valley Power Alliance) reduce load on the grid during emergencies by sending a signal to your generator to turn on and power your home only. Eligible generators have a transfer switch that will disconnect your home from the grid before the generator starts to power your home.