It's expected to get hot throughout New England this afternoon, and that means a spike in electricity usage as power customers turn up their air conditioners. In response, Vermont Electric Cooperative is asking its members to help the co-op "beat the peak."VEC sent out what it calls a "beat the peak alert" on Sunday, giving tips on how to lighten the electricity load and asking members to do so between noon and 5 p.m. today. A Beat the Peak page on VEC's website explains conserving energy during usage spikes will save everyone money in the long run:
Transmission and capacity costs are based on times when energy consumption is at its highest, or "peak" usage times. Transmission costs are based on an annual peak, and capacity costs are based on monthly peaks. If VEC members can collectively "beat the peak" by conserving electricity during these times, VEC has an opportunity to control our portion of these costs, which are shared by the other distribution utilities throughout Vermont and New England.
Here's what VEC is asking its members to do this afternoon:
- Turn off all unnecessary lights.
- Try not to use major appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, and clothes dryers.
- Raise your thermostat or air conditioner by 3 degrees.
“If VEC members can collectively beat the peak by conserving electricity during peak energy times, this helps to control costs that impact electric rates," VEC CEO Dave Hallquist said in a news release. “In a cooperative, when one member conserves, we all save.”
VEC's Beat the Peak alert system has been operating since 2012. Members voluntarily sign up to receive alerts by e-mail, text or phone messages.
