We value our large business customers, and we want you to reap the benefits of community ownership too. If you are one of our electric customers who used 500 kW (kilowatts) or higher electrical demand during the past 12 billing periods and have the ability to reduce your electric load, this rate-saving plan could be for you.
We will ask Kilowatcher customers to reduce their electric loads up to 100 hours per contract year. During those 100 hours, the price is substantially higher. In return, the customer will pay a lower price than our standard rate for the remaining on-peak hours during the year.
Who is eligible for the Kilowatcher program?
Customers in the electric rate classes Industrial Service Time-of-Day, 500 kW Minimum and higher, and Military are eligible.
What's the deadline?
You must sign each year up by April 1 to participate in the Kilowatcher program.
How it works
The Kilowatcher Rate Option allows customers to buy electricity at a lower rate during on-peak hours, except when a Super Peak period is declared. An electric Super Peak period can be called during normal peak hours, which are Monday through Friday, excluding legally-observed holidays.
We monitor forecasted supplies and demands and determine when a Super Peak period is necessary. Upon declaration of a Super Peak period, we notify participating customers 24 hours in advance of the period to allow time to reduce electric loads.
Who benefits?
Everybody benefits when energy is conserved. Conserving energy helps to protect our pristine environment and save valuable resources for generations to come. By curtailing the electric load during critical periods, customers save money, help prevent an energy shortage and ensure the continued system reliability that we are accustomed to receiving.
Your choice
We want to provide you with choices that are best suited to your business, your style and are convenient. If you don't have moderate flexibility to reduce your electrical load, you may not want to choose this service. We want you to feel comfortable that you have made the best business decision.
Easy does it
Signing up is simple. We value your time and want to keep the process streamlined. Your account manager can gather the needed information from you today and provide you with a sampling and estimate of your savings. We will provide your key contacts with the information, training and links to comfortably set the Kilowatcher Rate Option in place. For additional information call your account manager, or call the Business Services Group at 448-4800.
When is a Super Peak period called?
When energy demand is high or supply is low, we will call upon Kilowatcher Rate Option customers to reduce their electrical loads. It is unlikely that one variable alone will cause an event to be declared - it is usually a combination of variables occurring at the same time.
- Increase in Demand
- Temperature
- Cloud cover (or lack thereof)
- Humidity levels
- Day and time of week
- Process load being brought on
- Decrease/Shortage in Supply
- Production capacity
- Failure or repairs at power plant
- High market prices
- Availability of electricity on open market
- Availability of transmission
A Super Peak period can be called during normal peak hours. Normal peak hours are Monday through Friday, excluding legally-observed holidays. Specific hours are:
- Summer (April - September) 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Winter (October - March) 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
During a contract year beginning April 1 and ending March 31, the cumulative number of Kilowatcher hours will not exceed 100.
