Membership MATTERS

Time is money!

Beat The Peak

Time IS money when it comes to electricity usage each day. Blue Ridge Energy’s Beat The Peak program is helping members join together to keep costs low for all members by simply lowering your usage during a few key periods.

Peaks occur when the majority of people are using electricity all at once. Power suppliers must generate enough electricity to meet this high usage requirement. Leveling out these peaks will help control the costs.

Summer peaks typically occur on the hottest afternoons, from 2 - 6 p.m., when people are arriving home and using more air conditioning and large appliances for cooking, washing clothes and dishes. Winter peaks tend to occur on the coldest winter mornings, from 5-9 a.m. when most people are awakening, turning up the heat and using more electricity as they get ready for work and school.

What can you do to help? Sign up to receive Beat The Peak alerts by text, email or the Blue Ridge Energy mobile app.

When you receive an alert, plan steps to reduce your electricity usage during the specified times.

Easy but helpful tips include:

• Raise your thermostat as high as comfortable in the summer or as low as possible in winter.

• Shift the time you wash and dry clothes.

• Wait to run the dishwasher.

• Turn off unnecessary lights.

• Grill outdoors or use the microwave instead of the oven or stove.

• Postpone hot water use until after the peak.

Every action helps! Keep electricity costs low by signing up today at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/BTP, or text “BTP” to 70216.