Electric Co-op Today

An Alabama co-op has begun its version of a program used by other electric co-ops to solicit help from consumer-members to reduce energy demand during peak hours.

Many co-ops, and now Baldwin EMC, ask consumers to voluntarily turn off appliances to reduce energy demand during peak hours. (Photo By: Shutterstock)

Peak Busters is the name of the new program, which Baldwin EMC, Summerdale, hopes will lower overall wholesale power costs and save members money on bills.

The program started last month, and in its first month of operation, nearly 300 consumer-members have signed up, according to a co-op official.

That’s encouraging news to Baldwin EMC, which has yet to complete its full-fledged promotion for the program. “We’ve been educating members about what peak demand is and how important it is to watch and control it,” said Karen Moore, the co-op’s vice president of member services and public relations.

Moore said the co-op began informing members about Peak Busters through its website, bill stuffers, monthly magazine and e-newsletter late last year. During that period, the co-op also sought help from Choctawhatchee Electric Co-op, Defuniak Springs, Fla., with a similar program called No Peaking.

When members need to lower energy use—which hasn’t happened yet—the co-op will leave automated phone messages. “We’ll give tips about what to do during the hours we’re asking them” to cut electricity use, said Moore.

The co-op has a winter and summer peaking system, Moore said, so it could deploy the program any time during the year. The co-op set a peak demand record Jan. 11, with 375 megawatts consumed.

Tags: Consumer Outreach, Consumer-Members, Energy Conservation