Our Beat the Peak program is back and we’re encouraging you to make changes to your energy habits this summer. Participating is not only completely free, but it could help you lower your electricity bills. All you have to do is make a few small changes to the way you and your family use electricity during peak hours.

What is the peak?

It’s the time of day when Texans use the most electricity, typically from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., daily. This is when the majority of people are at home and more air conditioners or appliances are running. While this peak exists year-round, it hits Texas the hardest during summer months (June, July, August and September).

Why does the peak matter?

It effects your wallet. Supply and demand play a major role in the price of electricity.  The cost for wholesale power goes up significantly between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. when the demand for electricity is high, but the supply remains unchanged.

SPEC does its best throughout the year to keep costs as low as possible for our member-owners, but we also rely on your help to reduce the amount of electricity we have to purchase when prices are sky-high. Any savings we can find are passed right back to you. If we all work together, everybody wins.

It could cause blackouts. In addition to increasing the cost of power, the supply and demand problem during peak hours can test the reliability of the electricity grid. When there’s not enough electricity to go around, we could face rolling blackouts. By doing your part to reduce the electricity demand, you can help keep everyone’s power on.

10 Easy Ways to Beat the Peak

By making simple energy saving changes, you’ll not only save yourself money on your summer electric bills, but you’ll also help SPEC keep the cost of power down for the future. If you’re willing to participate, here are some easy, no-cost ways to change your energy habits and start saving.

1. Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher.
2. Use your ceiling fan. It uses far less power than your air conditioner. Plus it can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler so you can adjust the thermostat without sacrificing your comfort level.
3. Keep your blinds and curtains closed. When sunlight streams into your home, so does the heat. Close the blinds so your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home.
4. Cook outside instead of using the oven. When the weather is nice, fire up the grill and cook your dinner outside to avoid heating your home with an oven.
5. Use small appliances, such as a slow cooker, microwave or toaster oven. These use less energy and produce less heat than your oven.
6. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Many are preset to a scalding 140 degrees, which wastes energy.
7. Avoid taking showers or baths during peak demand hours (between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.).
8. Run appliances, such as your washer, dryer or dishwasher, in the morning or at night before you go to bed.
9. Unplug unused electronics. Simply switching a device “off” isn’t always enough. Many still drain power from the outlet if they are plugged in.
10. Get outside. Avoid using electricity altogether by leaving your home. Take a trip to the beach, head to the nearest pool, visit the local library or go to the movies.

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