Peak Pointers

For Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC), peak demand season is upon us.

Historically, peak demand — when WEC members use the most electricity — happens on the coldest day of the year between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., November 1 through February 28.

For the next 4 months, the cooperative will watch for possible peak-demand events and will send members alerts through text and social media when such an event could occur. Members can then take action to lower their household energy usage during the event.

When the system reaches peak demand, the cooperative’s wholesale provider uses that figure to determine what WEC will pay for power. In turn, WEC members pay a monthly demand charge, currently $2.50 per kilowatt. The demand rate, however, will increase to $4 per kW in March.

This rate structure gives our membership the opportunity to save annually on their power bill if they can reduce their demand during our coincidental peak. Members’ peak demand kW appears on their monthly statements as their own demand expense.

That’s why the cooperative alerts members through text and social media when temperatures drop low enough to cause a peak-demand event. Members can adjust their behaviors and reduce the demand their household puts on the system.

Along with the demand expense, members pay a distribution expense as well as an energy charge based on their meter reading for the month. The energy charge was lowered by 10% when the demand expense increased earlier this year, and WEC will continue to reduce the kilowatt-hour energy charge as we move forward.

With a lower energy charge, if members reduce usage during peak times, they can save money on their electric bills.

WEC Vice President of Member Services and Communication Stevie Sauls says it is important that the cooperative has valid cellphone numbers and contact information on accounts to alert members of possible peak-demand events.

“We’re giving them the information they will need to avoid setting a high demand,” Sauls says. “By providing our members with timely alerts ahead of peak demand events, they can make necessary usage adjustments to avoid setting a high demand for their account.”

Heating Your Home

Heating systems are typically the biggest energy users in a household.

A programmable thermostat can control a home’s temperature setting during peak hours. Sauls recommends setting the thermostat to make a home a little warmer in the time leading up to peak hours, and then adjusting the thermostat so the heat doesn’t kick on until the peak-demand event has passed.

Programmable thermostats range in price from $30 to $70, and can be purchased at most major home retailers.

Smart thermostats are a little more costly and connect to Wi-Fi to automatically adjust the thermostat, even providing remote control through smartphone apps.

If programmable and smart thermostats are not for you, adjust your thermostat so that the unit does not run during peak times.

Timely Water Heating

A water heater typically uses 4.5 kilowatts just to turn on to heat the water in its tank. Water heaters are the second-largest source of household energy consumption.

Have a timer installed on your water heater and set it so the water heater does not cycle on and off during peak hours. Most water heater tanks hold enough water to get you through the morning. Also, make sure the water heater’s thermostat is set to 120 degrees for a comfortable temperature.

Don't Tower Your Power

Running multiple high-energy appliances — such as your clothes dryer, dishwasher, and oven — during peak hours can spike your demand on the system.

Think small when it comes to heating food. Avoid using the stove and oven during peak hours and opt for the toaster or microwave instead. If you need to use your electric range, try to keep cooking to the stovetop, which uses less energy than the oven. And, if you can use a smaller burner, it is even better as those use less energy than a larger stovetop burner.

Don’t run your dishwasher during peak hours, and avoid doing laundry if possible. Even with energy-efficiency rated appliances, a dishwasher, as well as a washing machine, can consume a lot of electricity. Plus, if you wash on a hot cycle, the water heater adds to the energy consumption, almost doubling it.

A clothes dryer, depending on the model, can consume around 4 kW of energy per load.

If you must use your appliances, try operating them one at a time to keep your usage in a level range.

“If all those things come on at one time, you’ve just shot yourself in the foot,” Sauls says.