- StarsApart / Foter / CC BY
Delmarva Power is asking customers to conserve energy on Monday Aug. 3 as a heat wave continues. The power supply in the region is expected to be sufficient to meet anticipated high demand. However, on peak demand days, the utility pays premium prices for additional electricity.
For Delmarva Power’s Delaware residential and small commercial customers and its Maryland residential customers, Monday will be a Peak Savings Day. Customers will receive credits off their bills when they voluntarily reduce energy use below a baseline. The last such day was July 30.
Customers will automatically receive a phone call indicating that the savings period will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Customers can also choose to be notified by email or text. Peak Savings Days are typically called on weekdays, between June 1 and Sept. 30.
Customers who reduce energy use below their specified baseline during the specific hours of the Peak Savings Day will receive a credit of $1.25 their bill for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of reduced usage through the Peak Energy Savings Credit program.
For customers participating in Delmarva Power’s Energy Wise Rewards program, a conservation event will be called from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Delmarva Power will cycle participants’ air conditioner compressors off and on for short intervals during these hours. Because the air conditioner fans will continue to run, most customers will not notice a temperature change in their homes, a release stated. It may take up to a half-hour after the event ends for air conditioners to resume normal operations.
Energy Wise Rewards is a voluntary program for customers, offering a choice of a web-programmable thermostat or an outdoor switch, which the utility installs at no charge to customers.
Maryland customers will receive credits off their bills in return for allowing Delmarva Power to cycle their air conditioners a few days each year. Delaware customers benefit by automatically reducing their air conditioner energy use which contributes to the Peak Energy Savings Credit on Peak Savings Days.
Customers can learn more about Peak Energy Savings Credits by calling 1-855-750-PEAK (Delaware) or 1-855-751-PEAK (Maryland) or visiting www.delmarva.com/peak. To learn more about Energy Wise Rewards, call 1-866-353-5799 or visit www.delmarva.com/rewards.
Delmarva Power asks all customers to conserve electricity by taking these simple conservation steps:
- Set air-conditioning thermostats at 78 degrees and use an electric fan, which doesn’t require as much energy, and the air will seem cooler without sacrificing comfort.
- Keep window shades, blinds or drapes closed to block the sunlight during the hottest part of the day and to retain cooler air inside your home or business.
- Limit the use of electrically heated water and turn off non-essential appliances and as many lights as possible.
- Limit opening refrigerator and freezer doors.
- Postpone using high-energy appliances like electric stoves, washing machines, dishwashers and dryers until the evening.
For more information, visit www.delmarva.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/delmarvapower and Twitter at www.twitter.com/delmarvaconnect. Our mobile app is available at www.delmarva.com/mobileapp.
