Customer-Owned Generation (COG) plays an important role in managing demand on the electric grid. Members with existing backup generators may be eligible to participate in CCEC’s Customer-Owned Generation Program. By integrating their generation systems with the grid, members can help support electric reliability during critical system events while earning a monthly bill credit based on their generator’s calculated load reduction.
By participating in the COG Program, members can:
- Earn monthly bill credits for qualifying backup generation capacity regardless of whether the generator is called or not.
- Support electric reliability for cooperative members across North Carolina.
- Help provide emergency reserves during rare but critical system events.
- Put existing generation assets to work when they are needed most.
Unlike programs such as Connect My Thermostat or Beat the Peak, which are designed to reduce peak demand and lower power costs, the COG Program is not an economic demand-response program. Instead, it serves as a critical reliability resource used only during the most severe circumstances, when maintaining system stability and preventing widespread outages is essential. In fact, customer-owned generation resources have only been called upon twice over the past 9 years: Winter Storm Elliott in 2022 and the Polar Vortex event in 2017. These events demonstrated the importance of having emergency reserve generation available when extreme weather and unexpected generation shortages threaten electric reliability.
Because participation is limited and enrollment is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, interested members are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. New participants selected this year will begin receiving credits in January 2027. Additional information about the COG program is included on pages 42-44 of the cooperative’s rate schedule.
To see if your home or business qualifies to participate, complete this interest form or contact CCEC at 252.247.3107.