Peak Management

The goal of the Peak Management program is to control peak demand. Demand is the amount of electricity required by an electric utility’s customers all at one time. So peak demands occur on the days of the year when consumers use the most electricity.

Peak demands are most likely to occur on the hottest afternoons of the summer between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. Or, in the winter, when the temperature and wind chill plummets between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. or between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Your cooperative’s costs for power are determined by the electricity used at times when everyone else is also using a large amount of electricity. When the amount of electricty used during a peak period goes up, so do the costs.

But in order for the Peak Management program to reach its full potential, more people need to participate, and allow their electric cooperative to install a free radio-controlled switch (RCS) on their home’s electric hot water heater, heat pump, air conditioner or geothermal system.

Ohio's Electric Cooperatives' (OEC) Peak Management system uses advanced satellite and cellular communication networks and information technology to monitor the amount of electricity that cooperative members statewide are using every minute of every day. Peak Management personnel also monitor weather conditions across our region, and study the latest electricity use forecasts. With this information, they can determine how much electricity will be needed and used at any given time on those days when power use is at its highest. A Peak Alert is issued when peak loads are expected. Individual cooperatives then relay this message to their members through the local radio stations and by other communication methods.

Next, OEC sends a radio signal to a satellite orbiting far above Earth. This satellite relays the signal to 3 radio base stations, which then control the RCSs, temporarily shutting off power to participating electric water heaters and heating or cooling systems.

Tips for reducing peak demands.

• Turn your thermostat up a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter;

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms;

• Delay that shower or bath;

• Cut back on your use of washers, dryers, ranges, dishwashers and as many other appliances as possible.