Issaquah residents helped Puget Sound Energy (PSE) achieve a significant breakthrough in energy management this past winter through their participation in PSE Flex. The innovative demand response program empowers customers to take control of their energy usage while strengthening our regional power grid.
What is PSE Flex? Think of it like a community-wide effort to balance energy use during peak times. A Flex event might occur on a day with weather hotter or colder than normal, when we tend to use more energy to heat and cool our homes and businesses.
By making small adjustments to when and how we use electricity, we can help prevent strain on the power grid and reduce the need for additional power plants.
PSE Flex exceeded expectations, achieving 86.9 MW of peak capacity – surpassing our 2025 goal of 86 MW of available peak capacity ahead of schedule. With more than 620,000 customers participating across eight different programs, our community demonstrated the power of working together. Nearly 4,000 of those are in Issaquah zip codes alone.
PSE successfully conducted 20 Flex events during the last winter season, which ran from September to March. Each time residents adjusted their energy use, their conservation efforts helped build a more resilient power grid for our community.
How can other Issaquah residents participate?
There are several ways to join PSE Flex:
- Flex Rewards: Earn incentives for reducing your energy use during specific events
- Smart Home Programs: Use smart thermostats and electric vehicle (EV) chargers to automatically optimize your energy use
- Battery Storage: For homes with battery systems, help store and supply energy when it’s needed most
As we continue to transition to clean energy, programs like PSE Flex become increasingly important. Every small action—from adjusting your thermostat to charging your EV during off-peak hours—can make a significant impact.
