Encourages Community to Reduce Energy Usage from 4:00-7:00pm
Vermont Business Magazine Burlington Electric Department (BED) issued a peak alert for tomorrow/Thursday, August 12 as part of its Defeat the Peak program launched during summer 2017 (view news release), encouraging members of the Burlington community to reduce their energy usage from 4:00-7:00pm tomorrow.
Burlingtonians can lend a hand by taking the following steps on what is projected to be an unusually hot summer day:
- Raise thermostat temperatures or turn off air conditioners between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00pm before returning air conditioners to cooler settings (COVID-19 note: please be aware of minimum ventilation requirements and airflow patterns related to COVID-19 – more information is available on the Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) website at https://labor.vermont.gov/vermont-occupational-safety-and-health-administration-vosha);
- Wait until after 7:00pm or later to use washing machines, clothing dryers, dishwashers, and other appliances;
- Turn off non-essential lights until 7:00pm and later;
- Avoid charging electric vehicles until after 7:00pm (or until 10:00pm if you are on BED’s special off-peak charging rate); and
- Delay other discretionary electric consumption until after 7:00pm.
BED has called the peak alert due to extreme regional temperatures, particularly in southern New England this week. The New England region reaches peak demand for electricity during the summer. A significant portion of BED’s costs as a utility is determined by how much energy our community is using during the summer peak.
Two more traditional incentives for Burlingtonians who take peak day actions include: potential reductions in utility costs that help keep electric rates low and stable; and environmental benefits that come with reduced energy demand on the regional electric grid, which decreases the need for use of polluting oil and natural gas generators around New England. A more unique and innovative incentive introduced by BED based on customer input is a community reward opportunity through which a local nonprofit – in this case The Curtis Fund, part of the Vermont Community Foundation family – will benefit from a $1,000 contribution from BED if our customers hit the targeted amount of load reduction on a peak alert day.
“We are excited to continue Defeat the Peak for our fifth year, while recognizing that as we emerge from the pandemic, many of our customers are continuing to use energy differently this summer than in previous years,” stated Darren Springer, BED General Manager. “We encourage our customers to participate knowing that even small, individual steps add to our community effort to reduce costs and protect our environment. During the peak, please consider unplugging phone and laptop charging cords, adjusting thermostats, and waiting until after the peak to charge electric vehicles and to run dishwashers and other appliances. With your help, we can continue to hit our peak reduction targets, and we will be able to support The Curtis Fund in its work to help hundreds of low-income, at-risk students pursue their postsecondary education.”
The Curtis Fund provides scholarships for college education and training for Vermont students, most of whom are first-generation college students, who otherwise may not have a chance to pursue an education beyond high school. “The Curtis Fund is all about helping Vermonters secure a postsecondary education so they have the education and training necessary to pursue their career goals, while also ensuring that Vermont has the workforce necessary to fill high-wage and high-demand jobs in the future,” stated Shana Trombley, Executive Director of The Curtis Fund. “We’re very grateful that Burlington Electric Department has honored The Curtis Fund as part of its community effort to save energy and cut costs by defeating the electricity peak.”
BED also notifies customers by email blast about peak day alerts. Customers are invited to sign up for these email notifications, view a video explaining Defeat the Peak, and learn more about the program by visiting www.burlingtonelectric.com/peak. BED also shares information about peak day alerts with the community through social media channels, including Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Burlington, VT – Burlington Electric Department 8.11.2021