VEC Charts the Future of Grid Flexibility, Member Engagement

In the face of rising electrification and grid complexity, Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) is demonstrating how small utilities can lead the way in distributed energy resource (DER) integration and virtual power plant (VPP) development. Through strategic partnerships, innovative program design and a lean but effective team, VEC is reshaping how cooperatives think about load management and infrastructure planning.

“Between Green Mountain Power (GMP) and VEC, we’re managing about 170 MW of shifting resources,” VEC’s Innovation and Technology Leader Cyril Brunner said. “That’s nearly a quarter of Vermont’s total peak load, which hovers around 700 MW in the spring months. It’s a level of control that allows us to completely reshape peak demand curves.”

This load-shifting capacity includes:

• Behind-the-meter batteries: GMP alone manages around 50 MW of residential battery storage. VEC contributes close to 1 MW, with plans to expand through bring-your-own-device programs.
• Managed EV charging: Vermont utilities collectively manage 3–5 MW of flexible EV load.
• Commercial and industrial load control: Estimated at 10–15 MW statewide.
• Utility-scale batteries: More than 50 MW deployed across Vermont.

These resources allow VEC and GMP to shift peak demand away from traditional evening hours. They’ve flattened the typical 4–10 p.m. peak and are now seeing new peaks at 8 or 10 a.m. on cloudy spring days—times no one at the cooperative’s anticipated.

The implications are profound. VEC is not just shaving peaks to reduce capacity charges from ISO New England—it’s also preparing for a future where infrastructure constraints, driven by EVs and heat pumps, become the dominant challenge. 

“We’re only adding about 300 members a year, so we can’t afford to overbuild,” Brunner said. “Instead, we’re focused on stretching our existing infrastructure further.”

To manage this complexity, VEC relies on a team of three staff. Like most cooperatives, each wears multiple hats and is not solely dedicated to the cooperative’s load management program. One handles power supply and forecasting, another manages member relations and program enrollment and Brunner oversees technology partnerships and strategic planning. 

“We’re not equipped to scale up internally,” he said. “That’s why we’re working with third parties like Texture and FlexEnergi.”

Brunner sees third-party aggregators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as essential partners, not competitors, in the cooperative’s future. 

“Tesla, Ford and other OEMs want to sell hardware,” he said. “If we can help them monetize those assets through grid services, it’s a win-win.” 

VEC is currently working with Tesla to enable in-app enrollment for battery owners.

 “The member sees a notification in their Tesla app, clicks to enroll and VEC handles the bill credit and dispatch,” Brunner said. “It’s seamless.”

This model, Brunner argues, is more scalable and member-friendly than traditional utility-led outreach. 

“Most people don’t care about energy,” he said. “They care about their car, their app, their convenience. OEMs have that relationship. We need to leverage it.”

Brunner is also clear about the boundaries needed when working with OEMs—they can handle customer acquisition and enrollment, but control and visibility must stay with the utility. 

Looking ahead, VEC is preparing to launch a residential vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot. Brunner sees enormous potential in EVs as grid assets. 

“My Ford Lightning has a 98 kWh battery; that’s equivalent to more than six Tesla Powerwalls,” Brunner said. “The V2G space could completely reshape the distributed battery market.”

Brunner’s advice to cooperative leaders is clear: start with value, know your numbers and pursue programs that can achieve a positive ROI within a few years.

He also encourages experimentation. 

“We’re in the BlackBerry phase of this technology,” Brunner said. “You won’t get to iPhone Gen 10 without some trial and error. But if you’re willing to iterate and partner smartly, the payoff is real.”

VEC’s journey offers a compelling blueprint for cooperatives nationwide. As Brunner put it, “We’re laying the foundation and learning from mistakes so others don’t have to.”