Systems and methods to control activation of a generation unit. Compute an offer amount, representative of a value at which power is available to be supplied by a generation unit for a current or each subsequent upcoming time period in a time window. Construct energy supply curves using a set of points for each time period in the time window, to obtain associated amounts of power to supply with corresponding prices per each time period. Use a gradual decreasing price staircase approach to iteratively determine multiple offer amount scenarios. Submit the multiple offer amount scenarios along with corresponding values representative of available quantities of power to an operator computer that controls a market-based resource allocation system. Receive back a submitted supply value for the current or upcoming time period. Compare the submitted supply value to the submitted offer amount, and activate or deactivate the generation unit based on the comparison.