What is a Peak Alert?
A period during extremely cold temperatures when electricity is most expensive due to high demand. Lowering your use helps keep our rates stable.
Did you know that during peak times of 2 to 8 p.m. on the hottest and coldest days, electricity costs more?
Ways to Conserve
What to Do During a Peak Alert
- Lower your thermostat 2 to 5 degrees
- Turn off unnecessary lights
- Postpone household chores
- Wait until after the peak to shower
All it takes is making some simple changes at home, including:
- Raising the thermostat in your home by 3 degrees during peak hours
- Shifting your use of hot water away from peak-demand hours
- Avoiding the use of major appliances between 2 and 8 p.m., or the time frame specified on the top banner of this page
Together, small changes in how we use electricity can have a big impact on Paulding Putnam’s power costs.
How Will I Be Notified About Peak Alerts?
Beat the Peak alerts will be announced through:
- Local media
- Paulding Putnam’s social media pages
The time varies with each peak, and Paulding Putnam will notify our members of the specific time frame via social media, text, and/or email.
Sign up today for text and email alerts through our SmartHub app.
Sign Up For Peak AlertsPeak Alerts Information Video
Conserve Energy, Keep Rates Low, & Earn Account Credits
A radio-controlled switch (RCS) is a device that is installed on select air conditioning and electric water heater systems. The purpose of the radio-controlled switch is to help prevent the cooperative from exceeding a preset maximum amount of power being consumed by all member loads combined, called a peak.
During a peak alert, when electric use is extremely high, the RCS turns off power to the air conditioning and electric water heater systems in an effort to keep rates stable by reducing peak demand.
Radio Controlled Switch Registration
Existing A/C equipment and water heaters without a previously installed Radio Control Switch (RCS) and no rebate issued:
- $25 initial account credit
- $5 account credit per month during peak months (June to August)
Additional program details:
- Applications will be scheduled in the order received
- The consumer will be contacted to set an appointment for installation
- Multiple switches can be installed on multiple appliances
- Maximum of $25 initial account credit per household
- Maximum of $15 account credit per year during peak months
- The RCS must remain operational for the life of the equipment
- All rebates are subject to change
- Paulding Putnam reserves the right to deny any and all rebate requests
Beat the Peak
Beat the Peak is a free, voluntary program encouraging members to shift electric use away from peak-use hours between 2 and 8 p.m. on the hottest and coldest days of the year.
The price Paulding Putnam pays for electricity rises sharply during those times, so Beat the Peak allows members to help reduce costs associated with power.
This is an opportunity for all our members to save money. By conserving during peak times, you help keep Paulding Putnam rates low.
Note: When we issue a peak alert on very hot days in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) grid system, we are asking members to limit their electricity use for financial reasons (to keep our rates lower over time), not for generation capacity reasons. We are not expecting a shortage of power. We are simply asking members to reduce energy consumption during peak usage to help save money over time and keep rates as low as possible. It takes everyone chipping in to make a difference.
Please call our office with any questions at (800) 686-2357.
When Paulding Putnam is under a Peak Alert, it is typically between the hours of 2 to 8 p.m (actual times may vary and can include mornings in the winter season) on the hottest and coldest days of the year when electric demand is high. This is when electricity is most expensive, so the co-op asks members to conserve energy in order to save. This can be done by delaying large appliance usage, delaying showering, turning off lights, and adjusting your thermostat a few degrees until the peak is over.
However, peak hours can fluctuate throughout the year. These times make sense for most of us who are busy with families and jobs. However, being cognizant of when our individual homes use “peak power” and making a conscious effort to spread our usage over a longer timeframe can save our homes energy dollars.
As a member of Paulding Putnam, you can see when your individual home uses power by month, day, and hour. Simply sign up for our SmartHub app either online or with the convenient mobile app. This is a great tool for understanding how your family uses energy.
Peak Meter Level Descriptions
How Much Does This Help?
This list shows approximately how much it costs the cooperative when one of these items is used during a peak hour. This is a cost we continue to pay every month on our wholesale power bill — even long after the month the item was used during the peak hour.
- 100 watt light bulb – 80¢
- 20 watt efficient light bulb – 17¢
- Television – $1.61
- Computer, printer, etc. – $2.41
- Dishwasher – $8.04
- Swimming pool pump – $16.08
- Air conditioner – $24.12
- Clothes dryer – $28.14
- Electric oven – $32.16
When demand is high, every decision at home matters. By making small adjustments during peak hours, you help control power costs, protect the stability of the grid, and keep rates as low as possible for all members. That’s the cooperative difference, practical, responsible, and focused on the future.