Wait ‘til Late helps reduce power costs

Peak electricity demand on hot summer days has increased dramatically in recent years. In order to promote wise energy use and reduce the economic impacts of summer demand spikes, Dakota Electric is asking members to participate in a voluntary program of energy reduction called Wait ‘til Late. Wait ‘til Late asks members to delay energy use until 10 p.m. or the next morning on days when temperature and humidity soar.

Why would you want to do this?
As summer electricity demand surges upward, power production and delivery costs go up. This is because power plants that are more expensive to operate are used to meet peak demand. If it is necessary to purchase power on the open market, prices can be extremely high. As demand increases, more power plants need to be built to provide enough electricity. Purchasing power, running peaking power plants or building more power plants (including wind turbines), all increase the cost of electricity.

What can you do?
On extremely hot days when electricity usage is at its highest, there are many ways members can reduce electricity demand without major lifestyle changes. Here are some ideas:

• View our conservation gauge to determine whether there is a need for additional conservation efforts on high usage days.
• Delay running the dishwasher until 10 p.m. or the next morning
• Don't use the oven; instead prepare meals that don't add additional heat to the home
• Delay washing and drying clothes until 10 p.m. or the next morning
• Draw the curtains early in the day to keep the sun out
• Turn off extra lights and appliances that aren't needed

Some other long-term solutions to reducing energy use include:

• Sign up for Dakota Electric's money-saving off-peak programs
• Sign up for Cycled Air Conditioning®
• Replace incandescent bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent lamps
• Purchase ENERGYSTAR® appliances
• Check with us about rebates

Wait ‘til Late is not an emergency alert indicating a shortage of electricity. It's an educational initiative to inform cooperative members that extreme temperatures cause electricity demand to peak and increase wholesale power prices. There are usually only a few hot, humid days every year that would require members to make these voluntary, minor, lifestyle adjustments. Conserving energy on the hot, humid days will have the greatest benefit in holding down everyone's electricity costs.

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