BEAT THE PEAK

As temperatures rise in the summer and drop in the winter, our desire to keep the house comfortable may come at a higher cost on electricity bills. Looking for ways to improve energy efficiency at home can help you and Wharton County Electric Cooperative reduce demand, saving energy and money.

You can help keep electric rates low by using electricity during hours when it’s not in high demand.

During the summer, peak load demands occur at the times of day when most people use the most electricity, like in the middle of a hot afternoon when everyone is running air conditioners and around dinnertime when families are cooking, taking showers, washing dishes and doing laundry.

Off-peak hours usually are early in the morning, after dark and on weekends.

The less electricity you and your neighbors use during peak times, the less overall demand there is. That lowers the strain on the power grid and reduces the need for building additional—expensive—power plants.

Lower demand means Wharton County Electric Cooperative can lock in lower rates and pass those savings on to our members. So everyone saves.

You can do your part by scheduling tasks during off-peak hours and keeping electricity usage to a minimum between 3 and 7 p.m.

Here are some simple tips for adjusting your schedule to beat the peak:

• Set thermostat 2-3 degrees higher during peak hours.
• Use fans to feel 4-6 degrees cooler.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and electronics.
• Avoid using large appliances (i.e. ovens, washers, dryers, water heater, etc.) during peak hours.
• Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.
• Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity consuming equipment as much as possible.
• Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes. 
• Join the Load Management Program.

If we all work together to help reduce demand during peak times, we can reduce WCEC’s power costs, which in turn helps keep your cost down.