Colorado Springs Utilities on July 20 reached a new peak electric demand at 1,034 megawatts.
“Despite record-setting demand, our electric grid and generation resources met customer needs without significant service disruptions or outages,” the Colorado public power utility noted,
"A large part of this success is thanks to our customers, specifically those enrolled in the Peak Energy Rewards Program. Peak Energy Rewards participants helped us reduce peak demand by approximately 25 MW," it noted in a social media post.
The program works by adjusting the enrolled customers’ thermostats by no more than four degrees when a peak energy event is called. The program is voluntary, and customers can opt out of a peak energy event at any time from a mobile device, web browser or thermostat.
Peak Energy Rewards not only reduces demand on the electric grid, but it also offers cost savings via a $50 bill credit upon enrollment and a $25 annual bill credit for ongoing participation, the utility said.
