Cygnus controller taps PG&E Flex Connect to electrify factories without grid upgrades

On September 29, 2026, Long Beach industrial power company Critical Loop announced that Cygnus, its software-defined power controller, achieved official CSIP 2030.5 certification and completed interoperability testing with PG&E, joining the utility's Flex Connect Approved Solution Providers list. Coupled with its existing UL 3141 listing, Cygnus is described as the first power controller on the market to hold both certifications.

Flex Connect lets customers with controllable loads connect to the grid without waiting for traditional distribution upgrades: facilities draw maximum available power during unconstrained hours, switch to behind-the-meter battery storage during peak periods to enforce strict hourly limits set by the utility, and dynamically manage consumption based on real-time grid conditions. PG&E says the program already supports five operational sites — commercial EV fleets, public fast-charging infrastructure and battery storage — with more than 85 projects in the active pipeline.

"Businesses shouldn't have to choose where they operate based on power availability," said co-founder and CEO Bala Ramamurthy. The approach avoids diesel continuous-use generators and millions of dollars tied up in utility deposits; PG&E's Alex Portilla said interoperable solutions can expand flexible interconnection beyond EV charging into broader commercial and industrial applications. Critical Loop was a finalist in PG&E's 2025 Innovation Pitch Fest.

Traditional grid upgrades take years; flexible interconnection lets large loads start on today's spare capacity.

Certification across both standards gives customers one solution with broad compatibility across utility environments.

Battery-enforced load caps turn a grid constraint into a manageable schedule rather than a dealbreaker.

When a scarce resource is rationed by the peak, shape demand around the constraint instead of buying more of the resource.

With interoperability testing complete, Critical Loop is onboarding commercial and industrial customers across California, offering a path to full operations in months rather than years. The performance claims come from the company's announcement; PG&E's Flex Connect roster and program figures provide the utility-side context.