This works in Windows 8. It stores your current power setting and changes to High performance, lists the power scheme settings and then restores it to the user settings.
If this doesn't remain at High performance until you press a key, then it may need to be run with elevated permissions.
@echo off
for /f "tokens=4" %%b in ('powercfg /l ^|find ") *" ') do set PowCurrent=%%b
for /f "tokens=4" %%b in ('powercfg /l ^|find /i "High performance"') do set PowHigh=%%b
for /f "tokens=4" %%b in ('powercfg /l ^|find /i "Balanced"') do set PowBal=%%b
for /f "tokens=4" %%b in ('powercfg /l ^|find /i "Power saver"') do set PowSav=%%b
rem set pow
echo setting to High performance
powercfg /s %powhigh%
powercfg /l
pause
echo resetting to user default
powercfg /s %PowCurrent%
powercfg /l
pause