The hottest days of summer place a lot of stress on Iowa’s utility network.  This is when energy demand at Pella Cooperative Electric is the highest – also known as peak periods.  And when demand is high, the cost to generate electricity rises.  You can help keep rates affordable by shifting the timing of your power use.

Peak hours generally occur on the hottest summer days between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.  Changing your energy habits can help significantly during peak periods:

• Run appliances during early-morning or late-evening hours.  For example, run your dishwasher just before bedtime.
• Move the thermostat on your air conditioner up three degrees during peak time.  Using ceiling fans and closing curtains, blinds, or drapes will also help.
• Delay using hot water until after 9 p.m. so your water heater will recharge after peak times.
• Turn off any unneeded lights and electronics.

“Make a few small changes in your energy habits to help keep electricity more affordable,” says Stan Eysink, Member Relations Manager.  “Together we can contribute to savings for the Cooperative’s entire membership.”

The graph below shows a real-life look at energy use during one summer week at a member’s home. You can see the warmer the day, the more energy used; especially for the day the air conditioner was turned on. If you want a report of your daily energy use, call the cooperative today.

MORE RESOURCES:

Login to Account to View Monthly Use
High Bill Resources