The Australian Energy Market Commission released a draft version of a new demand response mechanism, designed to prevent summer black outs.

Norske Skog general manager Milo Foster said the Ettamogah plant is already a part of an incentive scheme which shuts down part of their processes automatically when the energy system experiences a surge.

He said it was too early to say whether the new proposal would be suitable for Norske Skog as there was too much that wasn't yet known.

But, in principle, it seemed positive and Norske Skog would likely submit feedback on the plan during public consultation.

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"In principle, I think certainly it could be an improvement in the market and it could lower prices in some instances for the rest of the market," Mr Foster said.

"Now during times of high usage prices tend to go up because there's a shortfall in supply, but if it's possible to inject the equivalent of extra generation into the market in those periods of high demand it would keep the price from going up."

During the February heatwave, Mars Petcare had to halt production in Wodonga twice as prices jumped to an untenable level, more than 1000 per cent of the company's usual rate.

Mars Petcare corporate communications manager Andrea Bradley said the rising cost of manufacturing and the volatility of energy prices - as well as a desire to be sustainable within a generation - informed the company's decision to embrace renewable energy.

"When the Kiamal Solar Farm in Ouyen finishes construction later this year, we'll operate under a power purchase agreement that generates the equivalent of 100 per cent of Mars' electricity from renewable energy," she said.

"We're really glad to see new ways of thinking coming forward to manage Australia's energy usage."

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