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CLARK ELECTRIC UTILIZING LOAD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Friday, July 14th, 2006 -- 12:05 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
With extremely hot weather in the forecast, Clark Electric Cooperative is turning to its Load Management system to prevent brownouts.
“When it gets to a peak period, we’re able to shut off water heaters, air conditioners… some businesses have generators and they will use them to beat excessive load,” explains John Knox, Director of Member Services for Clark Electric. “These members are given a reduction or a credit on their electric bill.”
“It’s a good program. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
The system is activated an average of eight times per year.
Currently, around 4,000 water heaters are equipped with radio-controlled devices that allow the utility to cycle them off during peak demand.
“They’re off, at the most, for four hours per day during the peak period,” Knox says.
Most customers don’t realize their water heater has been cycled off, because they still have stored hot water.
“I haven’t had one complaint in nine years about running out of hot water,” Knox says.
Without the system, things could get very tight this week, but no problems are expected, Knox adds.
If you’re not enrolled in the Load Management System, you can still do your part by making sure your curtains are drawn and your air-conditioner isn’t set too low during the upcoming hot spell.
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