Load Management

Conserving energy helps your wallet, and the planet

The Load Management Program helps balance the demand for electricity with the ability to generate and economically purchase electricity. Dairyland and its member cooperatives save money by delaying the need to construct additional power plants and reducing the need to purchase expensive power during periods of high demand. Load management is energy conservation at work.

Dairyland estimates that the program reduces demand for electricity by approximately 80 megawatts in the summer and 160 megawatts in the winter. . . the equivalent size of a small power plant. It does so by reducing the system’s total demand during peak use hours—generally between 3 and 9 p.m. People are commonly at home running washers and dryers, dishwashers and air conditioners during that timeframe. Because of this, during the hot days of summer we request members shift any flexible use of electric appliances and electronics to earlier or later in the day to reduce our peak energy use. Extremely warm or cold weather also create an enormous amount of demand on the energy system, with the increase in air conditioner and furnace use.

How does load management work?

Load management can involve such techniques as interrupting water heaters or air conditioners for short periods of time, and controlling when irrigation pumps or grain drying systems run. Most residential customers experience a seamless shift, with members’ thermal storage hot water and dual heating systems accommodating the interruption. Commercial and industrial facilities may use generators or simply reduce load for a special rate.

Dairyland’s member cooperatives offer the load control program to their members. Incentives may be offered to residential and business customers who participate in the program.

Energy use is on the rise

Dairyland is projecting a 1 to 2 percent increase in energy consumption annually.

Why this upward trend? Mainly, growth in our cooperative service area, as rural areas are increasingly suburbanized. Additionally, lifestyles have changed over the past two decades. For example, air conditioning used to be an out-of-reach luxury for many; now it is considered a necessity.