January can sometimes be a difficult month. The holiday season is over and the weather turns cold in the Wiregrass. Those cold days can also lead to high energy bills. But your cooperative is here to help, and we need you, too.
When temperatures drop below freezing, high energy demand can put Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC) in danger of exceeding its peak energy forecasts. When that happens, your energy bill can increase.
However, you can help WEC beat the peak and keep your energy bills low.
Be sure to like and follow WEC on Facebook and Twitter. WEC uses these pages to communicate with members when there is a peak demand alert.
What is peak demand?
Cold temperatures can affect the price of electricity. WEC neither produces nor operates power plants. Instead, it purchases electricity wholesale for its members from its generation and transmission partner, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.
Wholesale energy pricing depends on the concept of peak demand, which refers to the time of day of the greatest electricity demand. This is also when PowerSouth must supply the most power.
The more energy needed during those peak times, such as an extremely cold day, the more likely it is to increase prices for WEC and its members.
Members can do several things to help offset energy usage during those peaks, which usually come in the early morning hours during the winter.
How can members help?
Here are a few guidelines to help us avoid exceeding our energy usage during the winter peak hours of 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
- Keep your thermostat set to 68 degrees during the winter months.
- Take showers at night to avoid heating water during peak times.
- Run your dishwasher and washing machines during off-peak hours.
- Limit the use of TVs, gaming consoles, computers, and unnecessary lighting during peak hours.