RFP No. 26-01 PJM-Emergency Load Response Program

Background
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) is a regional non-profit public corporation established in 1972 under the Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act. It provides drinking water and wastewater treatment services to the City of Charlottesville and certain urban areas of Albemarle County. RWSA operates under a Service Agreement with local authorities and is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors.

The agency seeks proposals from qualified Curtailment Service Providers (CSPs) to manage its participation in PJM Interconnection's Emergency Load Response Program (ELRP). This program compensates customers for reducing electricity consumption during grid emergencies, thereby enhancing grid reliability and preventing blackouts.

Work Details
The selected CSP will be responsible for:
1. Resource Assessment and Aggregation: Evaluate RWSA’s facilities to identify curtailable resources and aggregate them for ELRP registration.
2. Registration and Compliance: Manage PJM registration processes, including nominations, baseline calculations, and compliance with PJM’s Manual 18.
3. Event Management: Monitor PJM notifications, coordinate load reductions during emergencies, and ensure performance meets committed levels with real-time support.
4. Settlement and Revenue Sharing: Handle settlements with PJM, calculate capacity and energy payments, and propose a revenue-sharing model.
5. Reporting and Optimization: Provide regular performance reports, recommend strategies for improvement, including automation integration.
6. Risk Management: Advise on risks such as penalties for underperformance and implement mitigation measures.

The CSP must support both Full ELRP (capacity and energy commitments) and Energy-Only options as applicable.

Period of Performance
The contract term will be one to three years with an option for up to two additional one-year renewals, starting from June 1, 2026.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed at RWSA's facility located at Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA.

Bidder Requirements
Bidders must be registered Curtailment Service Providers (CSPs) with at least three years of experience managing demand response resources in PJM markets. They should demonstrate successful participation in ELRP or similar programs with references from at least two clients.

Bidders must possess necessary technology platforms for monitoring, dispatching, reporting; comply with all applicable regulations regarding data privacy and cybersecurity; provide evidence of financial stability; and maintain required insurance coverage.