During the summer, peak load demand occurs when most people use the most electricity, like in the middle of a hot afternoon when everyone is running air conditioners and around dinnertime when families are cooking, taking showers, washing dishes and doing laundry.
Off-peak hours usually are early in the morning, after dark and on weekends.
The less electricity you and your neighbors use during peak times, the less overall demand there is. That lowers the strain on the power grid and reduces the need for building additional—and expensive—power plants.
Lower demand means Mid-South Synergy can lock in lower rates and pass those savings on to our members. So everyone saves.
You can do your part by scheduling tasks during off-peak hours and keeping daily electricity usage to a minimum between 3 and 7 p.m.
Here are some simple tips for adjusting your schedule to beat the peak:
- Wait until off-peak hours to run your dishwasher.
- Run full laundry loads during off-peak hours on weekdays or on weekends
- Wait for off-peak hours to run your pool pump, which can use more electricity than any other appliance—except for the air conditioner.
- Install a timer on your water heater so it won’t come on during peak hours. You’ll still have plenty of hot water in the morning because it can run overnight.
Another great option is to sign up for Mid-South Synergy’s Rush Hour Rewards program, available through our partnership with Nest thermostats. Through this program, Mid-South can adjust your thermostat during peak hours of energy usage to conserve energy and save you money. Rush Hour Rewards mitigates a vast amount of energy usage throughout the summer months, making electricity bills lower.
But don’t worry—if you get too hot, these beautifully designed Nest thermostats still allow you to take control. You can always turn your Nest thermostat back to your desired temperature to stay comfortable. Such energy-saving practices will only be in effect between the hours of noon and 9 p.m., with a maximum of eight hours at a time per week and no more than 25 times throughout the summer.
When you install a state-of-the-art Nest thermostat, through the program, you will immediately receive a $100 enrollment incentive toward your bill. On top of that, Mid-South Synergy is offering an additional $40 in bill credits between June and September and a $25 check for a home improvement rebate. Visit nest.com/energy-partners/midsouth for more information and to sign up.
If we all work together to help reduce demand during peak times, we can reduce Mid-South Synergy’s power costs, which in turn helps keep your costs down.
