Peak Partners is Efficiency Manitoba’s first demand response pilot program for homes with central electric heating and cooling. It uses internet-connected low-voltage smart thermostats to briefly and automatically ease demand on Manitoba’s electricity grid. This pilot will test how the program works in Manitoba and will help shape similar programs in the future.  

On the coldest winter days, electricity demand in Manitoba can increase significantly. That’s because of the increased demand for electricity to run electric heating and lighting during those cold, dark days in winter.  

By adjusting participating thermostats by just a few degrees during these periods, Peak Partners helps reduce electricity demand and support grid reliability. It also helps delay the need for costly new generation, transmission, and distribution system upgrades, keeping electricity more affordable for everyone.  

And you’re rewarded for helping make it happen.  

Peak Partners is delivered through a partnership between Efficiency Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro. Efficiency Manitoba manages program delivery and serves as your primary point of contact for enrolment, customer support, and program communications. Manitoba Hydro provides the demand response technology and oversees event planning and execution. 

Right now, our goal is to learn what works best for Manitobans. The pilot program is intentionally limited in size and eligibility to help Efficiency Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro better understand:  

• how Manitobans feel about demand response programs;  
• how effective smart thermostats are at reducing demand during peak periods and other times when the electricity system needs support; and  
• how future demand response programs could provide customers with even greater benefits.  

Peak Partners operates in two seasons: winter (from October to April) and summer (from May to September). We’ll hold Peak Partners events during both seasons during periods of peak demand and at other non-peak times (for example, during a time when maintenance may be required in a specific neighborhood) to support the electricity system’s needs and evaluate how demand response can be used in Manitoba. 

There are two incentives available to eligible participants:  

• A $50 new participant incentive, issued as a one-time payment after your enrolment is approved  
• A $25 participation incentive, earned each season (summer and winter) during which you take part in at least 50% of Peak Partners events called that season  

You can opt out of any individual event. Just keep in mind that consistent participation is what will earn you the seasonal incentive, and you can earn it again every new season you take part in.  

You’ll receive your new participant incentive within 30 calendar days after we approve your enrolment.  

You’ll receive your seasonal participation incentive within 30 calendar days after the season ends, as long as you’ve met the 50% participation requirement. The winter season runs from October to April, so you’ll receive your participation incentive by the end of May. The summer season is from May to September, so you’ll receive your participation incentive by the end of October. 

We issue incentives as prepaid digital Mastercards* and deliver them by email. If you’d rather have a physical card to use in stores, we can mail you one. We’ll deduct a $3 shipping fee from the card’s balance.  

*Efficiency Manitoba hasn’t partnered with Mastercard. This method of payment is only applicable for Peak Partners and doesn’t affect how we pay incentives for other Efficiency Manitoba offers.

In winter: Shortly before an event, we may adjust your thermostat by increasing the temperature setting slightly to maintain comfort in your home over the course of the event. During the event, your setpoint drops by a few degrees, then returns to normal once the event ends.  

In summer: Shortly before an event, we may adjust your thermostat by decreasing the temperature setting slightly to keep you comfortable going in. During the event, your setpoint rises by a few degrees, then returns to normal once the event ends.  

In either season, you can manually override your thermostat to opt out of the event at any time if the adjustment doesn’t work for you.  

Events can last up to four hours.  

Yes. If you have an ecobee thermostat, you can use the comfort preference slider in your ecobee app’s eco+ settings to limit how far your temperature shifts during an event. Otherwise, the temperature won’t be adjusted by more than four degrees from your setpoint during the winter season or more than two degrees during the summer season. 

During the event, you may see a notification directly on your thermostat’s display or in its mobile app.  

Yes, at any time. Your comfort always comes first. You can opt out of an event in progress by manually adjusting your thermostat’s setpoint. Keep in mind that to earn seasonal incentives, you must take part in at least 50% of the Peak Partners events called that season.  

You may be eligible if your home has central air conditioning, an electric furnace, or a heat pump, along with a compatible low-voltage smart thermostat.  

Currently, the only way to enrol in Peak Partners is through the ecobee app. To begin the enrolment process, activate the eco+ feature in your application and click “find utility programs” to begin the enrolment form. You’ll confirm your eligibility, give consent to participate, and complete a short onboarding process to connect your thermostat.  

Once you’ve completed the enrolment process, we’ll review your application and determine if you and your home are a good fit for the program.

Yes. If you already own a compatible low-voltage smart thermostat and heat your home primarily with electricity, you can enrol through the ecobee app on your smart device. If you don’t yet have a smart thermostat, you can enrol using a newly purchased and approved ecobee device instead.  

All ecobee models with the eco+ functionality can participate in Peak Partners. Eligible models include the following:  

• ecobee 3  
• ecobee 3 lite  
• ecobee 4  
• ecobee smart thermostat with voice control  
• ecobee essential  
• ecobee enhanced  
• ecobee premium

There’s no fee to participate. You simply need to meet the eligibility criteria.  

Yes. Enrolment materials and processes are available in French upon request.  

We’re happy to help. If you need program materials in an accessible format or require additional support to enrol or participate, contact us at 1-844-944-8181 or peakpartners@efficiencyMB.ca and let us know how we can help accommodate your request. 

To administer Peak Partners, Efficiency Manitoba collects your name, address, phone number, email address, and energy insights associated with event participation. Connecting your smart thermostat may also require you to grant additional permissions so that the program can communicate with your device.  

We only share your information with our implementation partners — CLEAResult^®, Virtual Peaker, and Resource Innovation — to help administer the program. We store all program data in Canada and all data collected is only used for the administration and evaluation of this program.

You’ll receive updates on your enrolment status from peakpartners@virtualpeaker.io. Virtual Peaker supports Peak Partners events and oversees the enrolment process, including automated email communications triggered by application status updates and seasonal program activities. 

CLEAResult manages day-to-day program support on our behalf and will respond to inquiries sent to peakpartners@efficiencymb.ca. 

These are legitimate program communications. If you’re ever unsure, call us directly at 1-844-944-8181 to confirm.  

Find full program terms and conditions and more information on Efficiency Manitoba’s website.