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South Plains EC News

Help Us Beat the Peak

Lower demand means the co-op can lower rates and pass savings to members

You can help keep electric rates low by using electricity during hours when it’s not in high demand.

During the summer, peak load demands occur at the times of day 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—expensive—power plants.

Lower demand means South Plains Electric Cooperative 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 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.

If we all work together to help reduce demand during peak times, we can reduce South Plains EC’s power costs, which in turn helps keep your cost down.

Watch our Facebook page for announcements this summer when we especially need our members’ help during peak times. Find us at www.Facebook.com/SouthPlainsElectric.