As temperatures rise and summer activities heat up, a reliable flow of electricity is essential to ensure CHELCO members stay cool and connected.

Summer brings some of the most extreme summer temps, which means people will be spending more time indoors to avoid the heat, and air conditioners will be working overtime. This increased use of electricity will cause spikes in demand, also known as energy peaks. During peak times, CHELCO must work closely with our wholesale power provider, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, to ensure a balanced supply of electricity is always available to meet our community’s energy needs.

The electric grid is essentially a giant network that connects power plants, utility poles and power lines to homes and businesses across the country, throughout our state and to our local communities. All parts of the network must work together to ensure the flow of electricity stays balanced 24/7.

When the demand for electricity is higher than usual, power providers must ramp up electricity production––whether from coal, natural gas, wind, solar or other energy sources––and utilities will pay more for electricity produced during the peak. These higher prices along with the general increase in electricity use are why you typically see higher bills during the hottest months. In extreme cases, demand can overpower the available supply, causing electricity shortages. During these times, utilities are required to implement rolling power outages to reduce the demand for electricity and re-balance the grid. 

When our area experiences extreme summer heat and higher demand for electricity, you can help by conserving energy. It’s easy––just check the clock and avoid your energy-intensive activities and chores during peak hours. CHELCO’s peak hours during summer months 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

When we all work together to reduce energy use during peak times, CHELCO can lock in lower electricity rates so everyone in our community saves. Conserving during peak times also eases pressure on the grid and helps balance the supply and demand of electricity.

CHELCO offers Residential & Commercial Time of Use Rates to help control costs for the entire cooperative while offering savings off members' monthly bill.

As consumers, our members are accustomed to making money-saving choices and paying lower prices for goods and services used during off-peak times. A number of industries — such as telecommunications and commercial airlines — offer attractive off-peak rates to even out customer demand and prevent system overload. CHELCO's Time of Use (TOU) Rate Plan works in the same way.

Members who sign up for TOU have the ability to reduce their electric bill by adjusting their usage patterns. Our Time of Use (TOU) plan charges different power rates based on the time of day members utilize energy. Rates are lower than our standard rates during off-peak hours and higher during on-peak hours.

There are many ways to lower your home energy use. Here are a few recommendations to help you save energy (and money) during the summer peak:

• Set your thermostat a few degrees higher. If you have a smart or programmable thermostat, adjust the settings so your cooling system syncs with the off-peak hours.
• Speaking of raising the thermostat, did you know ceiling fans can make you feel 4 degrees cooler? Operate ceiling or oscillating fans in occupied rooms to supplement your air conditioning. Be sure to raise the thermostat while fans are running for maximum energy savings. Remember, fans cool people (not homes), so turn them off when you leave the room.
• Plan energy-intensive activities like laundry and running the dishwasher for off-peak hours. Use automatic timers to run hot tubs, pool pumps, water heaters and other appliances in the same way.
• Unplug electronics when they're not in use or use power strips to manage devices.
• Close drapes and blinds during the afternoon to block unnecessary heat from sunlight.

When we all work together to beat the summer peak, our entire community benefits. Saving energy during peak times reduces your bills, keeps electric rates lower for all and relieves pressure on the grid.

To learn more about why time of use matters and CHELCO’s time of use plan, visit https://www.chelco.com/time-use-rate-plan.