Green Energy Consumers Alliance "Shave the Peak" Program

On a periodic basis, the Energy Advisory Committee is sharing tips and ideas for saving money, energy, and the environment. In time for the looming heat wave, the Energy Advisory Committee is launching the tips list with the Green Energy Consumers Alliance Shave the Peak program.  Click here to read about it.

As the Green Energy Consumers Alliance explains, when you use power matters: “For a few hours every winter and summer, electricity demand skyrockets to almost twice the normal amount. These ‘peak events’ are accompanied by wholesale electricity prices more than 10 times the average year-round price of electricity.” 

This is because in periods of very high demand, the grid uses “peaker” plants. Peakers normally are uncompetitive because they are old, inefficient, dirty—and the most expensive. 

When consumers look for ways to shave the peak by reducing loads in these periods of extreme heat or cold, they 1) save money, 2) help the environment, 3) forestall the need to build out even greater infrastructure, and 4) empower the demand side of the supply and demand equation.