Take a look around your home, and you’ll likely notice more devices plugged in than ever before. From smart speakers and streaming TVs to chargers and everyday appliances, our modern routines rely heavily on electricity. As energy use continues to grow, CHELCO remains committed to delivering safe, reliable power—around the clock and in all conditions.
Just as your household’s energy use rises and falls throughout the day, electricity demand across CHELCO’s system fluctuates based on when members use the most power. CHELCO must always be prepared to meet these periods of highest demand, known as “peak hours.”
For CHELCO, peak hours typically occur on cold winter mornings when members are starting their day—turning up the heat, taking hot showers, and brewing that first cup of coffee. While peak demand can also occur during hot summer afternoons when air conditioners are working hardest, CHELCO is primarily a winter-peaking system, even here in Florida.
When electricity demand spikes, it costs more for our generation and transmission cooperative, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, to produce and deliver the additional power needed. By keeping our system’s peak demand as low as possible, CHELCO and its members can work together to avoid these higher costs—saving millions of dollars collectively over time.
If “peak demand” sounds abstract, think of it like buying tickets to a popular concert. When everyone wants tickets at the same time, prices rise. When demand is lower, costs drop. Electricity works the same way—it’s all about supply and demand.
As we head into the colder months, small actions can make a big impact. Lowering your thermostat by a few degrees, running large appliances outside of peak hours, and turning off unnecessary lights all help reduce peak demand. Together, we can keep electricity reliable, affordable, and efficient for all CHELCO members.
To learn more about rebates, energy-saving programs, and ways to Beat the Peak, contact a CHELCO Energy Advisor at 850-307-1122 or visit chelco.com/beat-the-peak.
