What exactly is our peak?
As your cooperative, our primary goal is to provide you with safe, reliable and affordable electricity. That’s why we work so hard to offer you programs designed to help you easily save energy and money during your daily life.
You have probably heard talk about peak times. Today, I want to take a few moments to explain more about what that actually means.
Why is our peak important?
Peak times are periods of the day with the highest demand, or energy use, that determines a large part of the cost of the power we provide. Peaks generally occur on weekday afternoons in the summer from 1-6 p.m. and winter weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m.
When we all work together to lower energy use during peak times, we can help reduce the price our cooperative pays for this power. These savings are then passed on to you, our members, in affordable electric rates.
Cutting back on energy used during peak times not only helps us all save money, but it’s also good for the environment by reducing emissions and conserving natural resources. This helps to keep our community healthier and happier, so everyone wins.
How can you reduce energy use during peak times?
Here at Piedmont Electric, we try to make it easy for you to reduce energy use during peak times without disrupting your life. That’s why we have developed programs that make it simple for you to save. Check out the next page of our newsletter for more information on a few of these programs.
Generally speaking, avoiding or delaying the use of big energy users in your home like your air conditioning, heating unit, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and other large appliances helps save during the peak. Also, reducing your hot water use helps as your water heater does not have to replace the hot water you use.
Even small changes you make at home can add up to big savings. When we work together as a cooperative, we all win.
Now that you know a little more about our cooperative’s peak, help us all save by reducing energy use when you receive a Beat the Peak notice. You can either text BTPEAK (first and last name) to 800.222.3107 or send an email to BeatThePeak@pemc.coop with your name and email address.