Please Reduce Energy Consumption
On extremely hot or very cold and windy days, South Central Power consumers demand more electric
power than during normal weather conditions. When there is the possibility that the demand will be
higher than in the past, the Cooperative issues a Peak Alert.
A Peak Alerts doesn’t mean a shortage of available power. The alerts are, instead, a tool to
help control the demand for power. Your Cooperative pays for power, in part, based on the highest
consumer demand for electric power during any one-hour increment. When South Central Power sets
a new "peak demand," it has to pay thousands of dollars more throughout the next year. And that
means higher electric rates for you, our consumer.
When a Peak Alert is issued, you can help by reducing your energy consumption. Some easy ways
to do this are:
- Change your thermostat by 2 degrees or more – raise it in the summer and lower it in the winter
- Turn off lights, computers and appliances you aren't using
- Delay doing laundry, running the dishwasher, or using other major appliances until after the Peak Alert expires
Peak Alerts are normally issued between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer months and
4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the winter months.