Understanding Electrical Load Demand – Through the support and participation of its member cooperatives and respective municipalities, manages a demand response program that is the best in the electric utility industry.
Beginning in 1977, the Demand Response Program is voluntary for consumers who allow remote control, electric heaters and other interruptible loads to be turned off in exchange for discounted retail electricity rates. This capability makes it possible to manage existing power sources efficiently and avoid the need to acquire new sources of power generation that are very expensive.
Understanding Electrical Load Demand
The program is popular with about 50,000 consumers participating. Loads typically involved in the program are dual oil heating systems, water heaters, storage heaters and commercial loads with backup generators. When needed, approximately 80 MW in summer and 350 MW in winter can be interrupted from a control center in Grand Forks.