Time-of-Day on-peak hours shifting

This year’s winter season turned out to be mild. There were even plants trying to bud and bloom in February while the region was experiencing unseasonably warm weather. Now that spring officially has arrived, it is a good time to think about ways to save energy and money during the warmer months of the year.

Installing a smart thermostat is one of the simplest ways to manage home energy use and keep spring and summer bills in check. Smart thermostats are easy to install and allow you to control your heating and cooling system from your phone or mobile device. You can purchase an ENERGY STAR®-certified smart thermostat for as low as $100, which could save you 8% on annual heating and cooling costs, about $50 per year. This upgrade will quickly pay for itself, and you’ll gain insight into better ways to heat and cool your home.

In addition, Surry-Yadkin EMC member-consumers who are on the Time-of-Day/Shift-to-Save (TOD) rate, or who sign up for the TOD rate, are eligible for bill credits for the Bring Your Own Thermostat (BYOT) program. New members to the TOD rate will receive a $25 bill credit. Also, any members on the TOD rate who show proof of purchase of a smart thermostat can receive a $25 bill credit. You simply need to call and speak with one of our member services represen- tatives for more information on the BYOT program.

April is the month when members on the Time-of-Day rate need to shift their energy-use habits to ensure they continue to save energy and money. The kilowatt-hour (kWh) charge on the TOD rate is lower than the regular electric rate kWh charge for 21 to 22 hours of the day — these are the offpeak hours. But during the on-peak hours — the time of day when more energy is being used by all consumers — the kWh rate is higher for members on the TOD rate. This on-peak time period is the time when members on TOD will want to use little to no energy to save money.

On April 16, the TOD rate’s onpeak hours change to 2 to 6 p.m. daily. During the warm months, these are the hours when more energy is used by consumers due to the warmer afternoons when cooling systems kick in.

Using a smart thermostat to control when the heating and cooling system operates as well as setting timers for other energy users, such as lighting, can help control your energy use and reduce the amount of money you are spending on power.

For additional information on our Timeof-Day rate and other energy-saving tips, visit our website at syemc.com . If you are interested in a free home energy audit, call our Member Support and Energy Services team at 336-356-8241.

Jaye Hall is energy service coordinator for SYEMC.

In observance of National Lineworker Day and Administrative Professionals Day, SYEMC would like to thank all of our employees for their hard work assisting our co-op members every day.

In observance of National Lineworker Day and Administrative Professionals Day, SYEMC would like to thank all of our employees for their hard work assisting our co-op members every day.