OhmConnect

What OhmConnect does

OhmConnect operates a residential Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform that aggregates distributed energy assets — primarily smart thermostats (Nest, EcoBee, Emerson Sensi, Sensibo) and smart plugs — to deliver coordinated load reductions to utilities and grid operators during peak demand events. The platform's core mechanics are OhmHours, hour-long events during which participants manually or automatically curtail electricity consumption, and AutoOhms, 15-minute automated curtailment events triggered by real-time grid stress. Users earn a proprietary rewards currency called Watts (capped at 20,000 Watts per hour) redeemable for cash via PayPal, gift cards, bill credits, smart home devices, or charitable donations.

The company runs two distinct businesses. In California, OhmConnect operates a free, product-led demand response service integrated with PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E utility programs, monetizing aggregated load reductions through utility demand response contracts and capacity markets on a transaction-fee basis. In Texas, OhmConnect Energy (OhmConnect Texas LLC, PUCT Certificate #10280) operated as a licensed Retail Electricity Provider selling fixed-rate and variable-rate residential electricity plans, bundling demand response rewards and a Solar Buyback Program for customers with on-site solar up to 15 kW. New Texas enrollments are now closed, indicating a defensive consolidation around the California core and new geographic pushes such as Con Edison territory.

Go-to-market is product-led and self-serve: users sign up via web or mobile app, link utility accounts and smart devices, and earn rewards automatically. The company monetizes the spread between market/utility payments for verified load shed and the Watts paid to participants. Funding totals approximately $83.5M+ across multiple rounds, including a $55M Series D in June 2022 led by ClearSky, Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, and TELUS Ventures. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 range, and the company is identified by third-party diligence as a near-term transaction candidate in the utilities sector.

Name

OhmConnect

Legal name

OhmConnect, Inc.

Website

https://ohmconnect.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

OhmConnect operates a residential Virtual Power Plant platform that aggregates smart-device-enabled demand response across California (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) and historically Texas, paying consumers Watts rewards for load reduction during grid stress events and monetizing aggregated flexibility through utility programs and electricity markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Demand Response / Virtual Power Plant Platform

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential DER Aggregation & VPPs (Solar+Storage, Smart Home, Community) (EUAFAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Supply + DER/Virtual Power Plant Bundles (Solar, Storage, DR) (EUAGABAI), DER Aggregation & Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) (EUAMAJAC), Customer Grid-Edge Enablement Services (HEMS/DR Device Integration, VPP Enablement) (EUAEANAL)

Keywords

• Demand response services
• Virtual power plant
• Residential energy management
• Smart home automation
• Retail electricity provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Demand Response Coordination & Aggregation: OhmConnect aggregates flexible load from residential customers and sells the aggregate energy reductions into utility demand response programs and electricity/capacity markets. The company earns revenue from grid operators and utilities for verified load shed events, passing a portion of proceeds to participants in the form of Watts rewards. The demand response service itself is free for users.
2. Retail Electricity Supply (Texas): OhmConnect operates as a Retail Electricity Provider (REP) in Texas under PUCT Certificate #10280, selling fixed-rate and variable-rate residential electricity plans to Texas customers. Revenue comes from monthly electricity charges based on kWh consumption, plus associated transmission/distribution delivery charges passed through from the TDU. Additional revenue streams include smart device sales, promotional item redemptions, and late payment fees.
3. Demand Response Services (Texas bundled): Texas customers enrolled in OhmConnect Energy electricity plans are automatically enrolled in the demand response program, enabling OhmConnect to coordinate and monetize aggregate load reductions alongside electricity supply.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OhmConnect operates a software-based Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform that aggregates residential energy assets (smart thermostats, smart plugs, and home appliances) and coordinates voluntary load reduction during peak grid demand events. California residential utility customers (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) participate free of charge and earn Watts rewards for reducing energy during OhmHour and AutoOhm events, redeemable for cash, gift cards, smart home devices, bill credits, or charitable donations. Through its subsidiary OhmConnect Energy (Texas), the company also sells fixed-rate and variable-rate residential electricity plans under PUCT Certificate #10280, bundled with the demand response program.

Product overview

OhmConnect operates a demand response platform that aggregates residential energy conservation into a virtual power plant. The core OhmConnect platform enables users to earn rewards by reducing energy consumption during peak demand events (OhmHours). The subsidiary OhmConnect Energy sub-brand extends the offering in Texas as a retail electricity provider (REP) combining fixed-rate electricity plans with the same demand response rewards program. Key product components include OhmHours (hour-long saving events), AutoOhms (automated 15-minute device control during real-time demand surges), the Watts Reward Program (points redeemable for cash or gift cards), and Solar Buyback (for solar-equipped Texas customers). Smart home integrations with Nest, EcoBee, Emerson Sensi, and Sensibo devices enable automated demand response. Note: OhmConnect Energy is no longer accepting new enrollments in Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OhmConnect Demand Response Platform Core free consumer demand response platform that notifies California residential utility customers when electricity is most expensive and helps them reduce consumption in exchange for Watts rewards. Users sign up at ohmconnect.com, connect their utility account (PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E) and compatible smart home devices, and earn rewards by reducing energy during OhmHour events or allowing automated device control during AutoOhm events. Watts can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, smart home devices, bill credits, or charitable donations.
• OhmConnect Energy (Retail Electricity Provider - Texas) Retail electricity provider in Texas (PUCT Certificate #10280) offering fixed-rate and variable-rate residential electricity plans bundled with the demand response rewards program. Texas customers are automatically enrolled in demand response, earning Watts for energy savings during OhmHour and AutoOhm events, redeemable for bill credits, gift cards, or cash. The service includes fixed-rate plans with early termination fees, variable month-to-month options, Average Payment Plan (Budget Billing) for eligible customers, and a Solar Buyback Program for on-site solar customers (up to 15 kW).

Quantifiable outcome

• Financial compensation averaging $500–$1,000 annually for California demand response participants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and peripheral.

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhmConnect integrates with PG&E's demand response programs, enabling PG&E customers to participate in OhmConnect's demand response platform. PG&E electric service customers are eligible if not enrolled in another demand response program.
• Southern California Edison (SCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhmConnect integrates with SCE's demand response programs, allowing SCE customers to earn rewards by reducing energy during peak grid events through OhmConnect's platform.
• San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhmConnect integrates with SDG&E's demand response programs, enabling SDG&E electric service customers to participate in OhmConnect's demand response rewards program.
• Nest (Google)coreTechnology or IntegrationNest smart thermostats are compatible with OhmConnect's demand response platform, enabling automated energy reduction during OhmHour and AutoOhm events. Users link their Nest accounts to OhmConnect for remote device control during grid stress events.
• EcoBeecoreTechnology or IntegrationEcoBee smart thermostats are compatible with OhmConnect's demand response platform, enabling automated energy reduction during OhmHour and AutoOhm events.
• Emerson SensiperipheralTechnology or IntegrationEmerson Sensi smart thermostats are compatible with OhmConnect's demand response platform, enabling automated energy reduction during demand response events.
• SensiboperipheralTechnology or IntegrationSensibo smart climate control devices are compatible with OhmConnect's demand response platform, enabling automated energy reduction during OhmHour and AutoOhm events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Voltus: Voltus is a direct competitor operating a virtual power plant platform that aggregates distributed energy resources (commercial and increasingly residential) to sell demand response and grid services into wholesale markets. Like OhmConnect, Voltus monetizes aggregated flexibility and serves similar utility and grid operator customers.
• Uplight: Uplight provides an energy cloud platform for utilities that includes demand response orchestration, customer engagement, and device integration for residential DR programs. It competes with OhmConnect for the same utility customer DR budgets with a B2B utility-software model rather than consumer-direct.
• EnergyHub: EnergyHub operates a residential DER management platform used by utilities to run demand response, load shifting, and behind-the-meter asset programs. It is comparable to OhmConnect's California VPP business in target customer (utilities), mechanism (residential device aggregation), and monetization (DR program delivery).
• CPower: CPower is a demand response aggregator that monetizes distributed energy resources (commercial and residential) into wholesale and utility DR markets. Like OhmConnect, CPower connects flexible load to grid services revenue and serves utility program customers across multiple US regions.
• AutoGrid (Schneider Electric): AutoGrid, now part of Schneider Electric's DERMS portfolio, provides distributed energy resource management and VPP aggregation software for utilities and aggregators. It is comparable to OhmConnect's VPP orchestration platform and competes for utility DR and flexibility program contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Tesla Energy (Virtual Power Plant / Autobidder): Tesla Energy operates Powerwall-based residential virtual power plants in California and other markets, aggregating distributed batteries for grid services. It is comparable to OhmConnect as a residential VPP operator, but is part of a much larger EV/storage/energy business with significantly greater capital and device scale.
• Stem Inc: Stem operates AI-driven energy storage and VPP software that aggregates distributed storage and solar assets into wholesale market services. While historically commercial-focused, Stem's VPP platform overlaps with OhmConnect's aggregation business in market mechanism (bidding flexibility into wholesale markets) and target customers (utilities, grid operators).

Emerging players

• GridPoint: GridPoint provides energy management and demand response solutions for commercial and multifamily buildings, with overlap into residential DR. It is comparable to OhmConnect in device-level aggregation and DR program delivery, though primarily focused on the C&I segment rather than single-family residential.
• Google Nest Renew: Nest Renew enables Nest thermostat owners to participate in demand response and clean energy programs, with direct overlap to OhmConnect's Nest-integrated DR business. As a competitor embedded in millions of devices, Nest Renew is both a partner (via integration) and a threat (via owned DR capability) to OhmConnect's VPP aggregation.
• Leap (WattCarbon): Leap, acquired by WattCarbon, is a marketplace platform connecting distributed energy resources (residential and C&I) to grid flexibility and emissions reduction buyers. It is comparable to OhmConnect's aggregation model in targeting distributed flexibility, though via a marketplace rather than direct-to-consumer DR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ohmconnect
• Facebookfacebook.com/ohmconnectenergy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ohmconnect

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OhmConnect