As utilities crank up generators to supply demand for summer’s peak loads of electricity, some companies are making money by turning off their air-conditioners and helping utilities shave off the peaks.

In this video, international-technology giant IBM explains how it acts like a city by buying power from utilities and then not using that power during peak demand times.

This video includes an interesting look at the inside of a hydro power plant that uses diesel peak generators for emergency peak usage. It shows why power companies are scrambling to incorporate demand response and smart grid technologies into their supply chains.

In The Top Ten Ways We Waste Energy And Water In Buildings, IBM’s Vice President, Smarter Buildings Dave Bartlett writes about some simple ways that buildings can save energy and reduce load during peak demand times.