REC teams with Virtual Peaker on smart-device grid program

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative is partnering with Virtual Peaker to let members enroll smart thermostats, batteries, EV chargers and electric vehicles in a demand-response program. The move is designed to help REC manage rising power costs and growing electricity demand across Virginia while protecting grid reliability.

Why it matters: - REC is trying to offset rising power supply costs and fast-growing electricity demand across Virginia. - The program is designed to help members avoid higher bills while supporting grid reliability. - The effort expands the use of customer-owned devices as grid resources during peak demand.

What happened: - Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and Virtual Peaker announced a new partnership on July 30, 2026. - The program will let REC members enroll smart thermostats, batteries, EV chargers and electric vehicles. - REC is using the program to support grid reliability across its service territory in Virginia. - REC is headquartered in Fredericksburg and serves residential and business customers across 22 counties in Virginia.

The details: - Virtual Peaker will enable REC to enroll, manage and dispatch devices for demand-response events. - REC will track device performance through the program. - REC plans to integrate device enrollment into its MyREC SmartHub system. - Members will be able to sign up for the program and track incentive delivery in the same tool that manages their REC account. - REC will schedule events based on real-time grid conditions. - REC also plans to incorporate existing relevant projects into the program. - The program supports REC’s CORE Grid strategy, which stands for Connected, Optimized, Resilient and Expandable.

Between the lines: - The partnership reflects a broader utility shift toward distributed energy resources as a way to manage load instead of relying only on traditional infrastructure. - REC is pairing customer incentives with direct device control to make demand response easier to join and more practical to run. - Virtual Peaker is positioning the deal as part of a wider push toward virtual power plants and more coordinated grid assets. - REC’s technology strategy suggests the cooperative wants tighter visibility into how flexible customer devices can help balance the system.

What's next: - REC is expected to build the enrollment feature into MyREC SmartHub. - The cooperative will begin using real-time grid conditions to trigger events under the new program. - REC members should eventually be able to connect more of their devices to grid-support programs through a single account platform. - Virtual Peaker said the collaboration will help deliver incentives to participating members.

The bottom line: - REC is betting that smart devices can become a practical tool for easing grid pressure as Virginia’s power needs keep climbing. - More information is available on the company website and on LinkedIn.