Oracle Says Opower Cut Peak Electricity Demand by 1 Gigawatt in 2026

Key Facts

Oracle said Opower programs reduced peak electricity demand by a total of 1 gigawatt in North America from the start of 2026 through November 11. The figure measures the operational impact the company reported for its utility programs during the period, while available data did not provide a separate figure for Oracle’s financial impact. The company said the programs ran 73 peak-demand reduction events during the winter and summer seasons in 2026. The announcement points to a broader rollout of these events compared with the previous year. Oracle shares closed at $117.98 on November 10, according to EL7 data.

The number of peak-reduction events reached 49 in 2025, compared with 73 in 2026, and Oracle said the increase was nearly 50%. The events covered the winter and summer seasons, according to the company’s statement. It also said its programs engaged 4.3 million customers in 2026, up 30% from 3.3 million in 2025. These figures link the rise in the number of events with an increase in customers participating in the programs. The announcement did not specify each season’s share of total events or participants.

Average peak-demand reduction was 16,592 kilowatts per event in 2026 results through November 11, according to Oracle. The company said this average was equivalent to the peak electricity consumption of 4,150 homes. The metric describes the average reduction associated with one event, while 1 gigawatt represents the total reduction the company reported for North America since the start of the year. In a separate case, Puget Sound Energy said its Flex Events program delivered a statistically significant reduction in peak load of up to 16.6 megawatts per event. It said this level was achieved across three consecutive seasons of program implementation.

Earlier in 2026, Puget Sound Energy added a $0.50 per kilowatt-hour bill credit to its program, alongside behavioral messaging. It said the incentive aims to encourage customers to reduce usage during peak events. Behavioral programs and peak-time rebates, according to Oracle, broaden participation in demand response efforts and virtual power plants. Participation can include customers who do not own connected devices, the company said. The announcement did not give a figure for the number of customers who participated specifically through this type of program.

Oracle said Opower updates expand support for demand-reduction events throughout the year, rather than limiting them to specific seasons. The updates include customer segmentation tools, allowing utilities to target different groups with tailored messages. The company said this support gives utilities more options when organizing demand-response events. It also noted that broader participation includes users who do not own connected devices. Oracle did not specify in the announcement when the updates would be implemented or provide projected figures for their impact on total reductions.