With increased efforts to create a more dynamic power grid that is cleaner, more reliable and more efficient, utilities are tapping into various new technologies and programs. A popular energy solution is demand response (DR). Typically implemented in the industrial sector where energy use is high and peak energy demand comes at a significant cost to utilities and the grid itself, DR usage is gaining traction in the residential sector. Such programs offer consumers the opportunity to play a crucial role in the operation of the power grid by reducing or shifting their electricity usage during peak periods in response to time-based rates or other forms of financial incentives.