Pawtucket School Committee approves participation in Rhode Island Energy dispatch program

The Pawtucket School Committee voted unanimously April 14 to enroll district facilities in Rhode Island Energy’s daily dispatch demand‑response program, an initiative the administration said could generate roughly $123,000 a year for the district.

Patrick Grogan of Enel North America, the vendor and intermediary, told the committee the program registers participating school buildings as a virtual resource that can be called during grid stress. Participation is voluntary, enrollment has no cost and the district faces no penalties for declining to curtail, Grogan said. The district retains operational control and would normally curtail by modestly adjusting HVAC set points during events.

The program targets buildings with operational HVAC and building‑management systems, such as summer‑conditioned facilities. Grogan said real‑time monitoring software and a 24‑hour‑ahead notice would be used to measure performance and facilitate payments.

Superintendent and operations staff described use cases such as taking unused summer buildings offline or temporarily raising set‑points in unoccupied areas; administration estimated the district could receive roughly $120,000–$125,000 in annual revenue depending on enrollment and event participation.

The committee made a motion to approve enrollment, the clerk called the roll and members voted in favor. No member recorded a dissenting vote during the public roll call.

The committee asked staff to coordinate implementation details, including which buildings would enroll, how curtailments would be executed and how revenue would be handled in district financial reports. Administration said final participation choices would remain with district staff and be informed by building managers and principals. The program does not alter school operations on days when students are present unless staff choose to participate.