Shift Timing To Start Saving

A message from your general manager, Tom Wolfenbarger.

As we settle into the heat of July, our homes naturally use more electricity. Air conditioners run longer, refrigerators work harder, and daily routines, from cooking dinner to doing laundry, often overlap during the warmest parts of the day. That’s also when the demand for electricity across our community is at its highest.

Our top priority is delivering reliable power whenever you need it. But during peak energy hours, usually weekdays from 1 to 8 p.m., there’s added pressure on the grid as homes and businesses require larger amounts of electricity, all at the same time. On the hottest days, that strain can be significant.

Think of our electric grid like a highway system. During rush hour, traffic is heavy, congestion builds, and everything slows down. But when drivers adjust their schedules, even slightly, it helps ease the bottleneck. The same principle applies to energy use.

By shifting some of your high-energy activities to off-peak hours, like doing laundry later in the evening, running the dishwasher before you go to bed, or cooking meals earlier in the day, you’re helping spread out demand. That reduces pressure on the grid during critical peak hours.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative offers two rate plans to members to encourage energy use during off-peak hours, when electricity is less expensive, to help members and the co-op save money. Our electric vehicle rider is perfect for EV owners who are willing to charge their EVs during the night, when electricity demand and wholesale energy rates are lower. If you don’t have an EV but would like the incentives of a special rate, a time-of-day rate is available to residential members. This rate is perfect for energy savers who are willing to modify behavior to maximize savings and members who are willing to shift their energy use away from peak hours. Learn more about these rates at https://butlerrural.coop/residential-rates.

Smart technology can be a valuable partner in saving energy. A programmable or smart thermostat can automatically adjust your home’s temperature when demand is highest, helping you stay comfortable while using energy more efficiently. Even a small adjustment of a few degrees during peak hours can make a difference.

In the kitchen, simple swaps can help, too. Using a slow cooker, air fryer, or outdoor grill instead of the oven keeps your home more comfortable and reduces the need for additional cooling during the warmer parts of the day. When it comes to laundry, air-drying clothes or spacing out loads can cut down on both energy use and indoor heat.

Don’t overlook the power of ceiling fans, either. They can make you feel several degrees cooler, allowing you to raise your thermostat setting without sacrificing comfort.

These actions may seem small on their own, but together, they add up. When many members make mindful choices about when and how they use electricity, it helps reduce peak demand, eases strain on the grid, and supports more stable energy costs for our local communities.

As a member, you’re part of a community working together to power our future. Every effort you make contributes to a stronger, more resilient system.

This summer, I encourage you to take a closer look at your daily routines. A few simple shifts can go a long way in keeping your home comfortable, your energy use efficient, and our grid running smoothly no matter how high the temperatures climb.