Sign Up for Peak Alerts
June 1 marks the beginning of Peak Alert season for Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) members. Radio and website announcements will be issued when electric demand is highest on hot, humid weekday afternoons. Members can sign up for email notifications to receive alerts when a peak day is expected and take action to help Beat the Peak!
Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) encourages members to stay alert for Peak Alerts during the summer months. This program is designed to help the cooperative maintain stable and affordable electric rates for all members.
In partnership with our power supplier, Allegheny Electric Cooperative, and the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association (PREA), we notify members when high electricity demand is expected. During these Peak Alerts, we ask you to reduce your energy use so we can limit the amount of power we must purchase when prices are at their highest.
Electricity is produced for immediate use; it cannot be stored economically. Because of this, power plants must meet electricity requirements at all times. Peak demand refers to those periods when electric consumers collectively use the most electricity. Generally, electricity prices are higher during demand peaks.
For example, during a hot, humid summer day at 3 p.m. you may be running your home's A/C unit, a dehumidifier in the basement, doing a load of laundry, and your swimming pool pump may kick on. This is likely a peak demand period for your home that day and as many members do the same, the cooperative will likely see a demand peak across the entire system.
As a result of electric competition in Pennsylvania, the price an electric cooperative consumer must pay for electricity is partially based on how much electricity the cooperative requires between 1 and 7 p.m. on the five hottest, most humid days each summer. Reducing the amount of power the cooperative uses on those days, as well as during other times throughout the year, can stabilize electric costs.
Small adjustments in when, where, and how you use your electricity do make a difference in energy costs during high-demand periods!
There are plenty of simple steps to take this summer to beat the peak.
- Turn your air conditioner up five degrees higher than usual.
- Run your dishwasher and do laundry early in the morning or later evening.
- Schedule your pool pump to run during off-peak hours.
- Turn off dehumidifiers during the day.
- Cook dinner on the grill or use counter top appliances, like a Crock-Pot, rather than the oven.
- Turn off unnecessary lights and electronics that generate heat.
- Shut blinds and curtains during the day to keep the sun from naturally warming up your home.