Delmarva Power declared a Peak Savings Day on Thursday, Aug. 26, between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Increased demand for electricity throughout the Mid-Atlantic region is anticipated for Thursday. While the region’s power supply is expected to be sufficient, Delmarva Power customers are encouraged to conserve energy and save money on this Peak Savings Day.
Despite long periods of near-record heat, Peak Savings Days have been rare this year, due in part to energy conservation efforts by businesses and residents. Delaware has also lost large industrial users of electricity over the years.
Periods of peak use also lead utilities to purchase additional power at higher prices.
Delmarva Power customers can earn bill credits on a Peak Savings Day through the Peak Energy Savings Credit Program. Customers participate simply by saving energy during the specified hours. No enrollment is needed. Customers receive a bill credit of $1.25 for every kilowatt-hour of reduced energy use below the customer’s average energy use.
Customers are alerted by phone call the day before the Peak Savings Day indicating the hours to reduce energy use and can also choose to be notified by email or text by signing into My Account.
Customers can sign up to receive an alert after a Peak Savings Day with details on how much they saved and how their savings compared to others. Savings information is also available the next day in My Account and on their next bill.
Delmarva Power will cycle air conditioners during a Peak Savings Day for customers participating in Energy Wise Rewards. This means that Delmarva Power will signal the participant’s thermostat or outdoor switch to cycle the air conditioner compressors off and on based on the customer-selected cycling level.
Because the air conditioner fan will continue to run, customers may not notice a temperature change in their home. However, it may take up to a half-hour after the period ends for air conditioners to resume normal operations.
Delmarva Power recommends that customers consider the following tips to help save energy and stay comfortable during a Peak Savings Day:
- Raise the thermostat three or four degrees above the normal setting, if health permits.
- Be sure all windows are shut, and outside doors are closed when the AC is on.
- Keep lamps, televisions, or other heat sources away from your AC thermostat – heat from these sources may cause the air conditioner unit to run longer than it should.
- Turn ceiling fans on with blades rotating counterclockwise.
- Ensure that furniture or other obstacles do not block ducts or fans to enable cooled air to circulate freely.
- Use an outdoor grill or microwave instead of the stove or oven.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances such as dishwashers and clothes dryers.
- Draw blinds and curtains in rooms that receive a lot of sunlight.
