Indicator Light

Improving Efficient Energy Use Through Communications.

Cooperatives use plug in technology to quickly and easily communicate energy efficiency messages to customers.

"Beat the Peak" is a program to develop technology that addresses demand side management initiatives: Residential Load Management, Interruptible Key Accounts, and Member Participation.

Using a device which plugs into a standard wall socket, members are notified when the electrical system is operating in a peak cost condition through a light indicator,audible tone, or text message. This device operates off the existing infrastructure and utilizes existing technology used for load management switches. The member would then "Beat the Peak" by manually reducing the load in their home to a lower, yet comfortable level, for the peak duration which is typically less than 4 hours.

Using this technology for approximately three days per month can provide a significant cost savings to the cooperative and its members. Through working collaboratively to reduce capacity costs and requirements, both cooperatives and members are engaged in the solution. Encouraging cooperatives, members, and media to focus on peak management issues makes this solution a viable and sustainable program.

Participation in a program like "Beat the Peak" lowers costs to members as the result of reduced generation needs. Additionally, the cooperatives and members are more engaged in the solution which will result in high participation and ownership of the solution.

The"Beat the Peak" program has already improved load factor performance during a trial period according to demand comparisons with other generation and transmission cooperatives. This trial was performed without the use of a notification device from May through December 2008 and resulted in a total cost savings of about $2,000,000. The program improved the load factor about 4% over 2007 levels and offered a lower cost per kwhr while improving the credibility of the cooperative.

Device Development

Cooper Power Systems is partnering with Delaware Electric Cooperative and NRTC to design, develop and market a device which plugs into a standard wall socket and notifes the member when the electrical system is operating in a peak cost condition.

This device would operate off the existing infrastructure and utilize existing technology used for load management switches. The device would be signaled from the distribution cooperative during peak period and light an indicator, create an audible tone and or highlight a text message. When the member received the notification they would know to reduce as much load in their home to comfortably but resourcefully live for the short period of time.

This "Beat the Peak" period runs typically less than four hours per occurrence on approximately three days monthly and could provide significant cost savings to the member and cooperative. This device would be supplied to the member at no charge. It would be important to identify which members would utilize the device to assure reasonable payback for the cooperative.