For the co-op, winter peak alerts have traditionally been few and far between. Some years, we experience none at all. This winter, however, told a different story and offered an important reminder about how energy demand continues to change.
By mid-December, three winter peak alerts had already been issued, including one that occurred over a weekend. While peak alerts typically happen during periods of extreme cold or heat, this winter’s early and increased activity stood out. As we move toward the end of winter, additional peak alerts are unlikely, but the season has already shown how quickly demand can rise when temperatures drop and electricity use increases across the region.
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What is a peak alert?
Peak alerts are issued during times when electricity demand is projected to be at its highest. This is also when the cost to purchase power is at its highest. These events aren’t unique to Paulding Putnam. Electric co-ops and utilities across Ohio and Indiana, and throughout the country experience the same pressures.
Peak alerts are issued regionally by the grid operator, PJM (Pennsylvania–Maryland–New Jersey Interconnection), and passed along to local co-ops through their wholesale power providers. For Paulding Putnam, that provider is Buckeye Power. Buckeye receives real-time alerts from PJM and activates load management programs accordingly.
Local co-ops do not control when peak alerts are issued or when load control switches are activated. When alerts occur, we do our best to communicate with members as quickly as possible.
For the fastest updates, Facebook is the best place to find real-time information. Members can also enroll in Peak Alert notifications through SmartHub.
What happens during a winter peak
During a winter peak alert, members who participate in load management may notice their electric water heaters being temporarily switched off. These short interruptions help reduce overall energy use during critical periods and support system reliability when demand is highest.
Reducing demand during peak events helps lower the risk of emergency conditions on the electric grid, including rolling blackouts. Rolling blackouts have not affected us but have affected other states during periods of extreme weather.
Looking ahead and why it matters
As winter comes to a close, peak alerts remain an important topic. Summer heat will be here soon enough, and that’s when peak alerts are more common and energy demand typically reaches its highest levels. Summer peaks usually occur between late June and August, driven by widespread air conditioning use during heat waves.
While no one enjoys adjustments to their comfort, these programs play a key role in keeping energy costs manageable for all members. Reducing demand during peak times helps limit the amount of high-cost power the co-op must purchase and helps maintain stability across the electric grid.
Members who enroll in our load control program help the co-op save. This past year, the co-op saw a savings of about $606,000 thanks to reduced peak load from these programs.
This winter served as a reminder that peak alerts can happen outside of what we’ve come to expect. As energy demand continues to grow, preparing for peak events will remain an important part of keeping electricity reliable and affordable for the communities we serve. We offer rebates and incentives for members to enroll in our “Beat the Peak” program. If you have questions about peak alerts, please feel free to email pniagu@ppec.coop or call 800-686-2357.
