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Energy Wise tips for businesses

With Energy Wise Rates you can lower your costs by using electricity during times when demand is lower. Rates will be lowest during off-peak hours and highest during on-peak hours:

 

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On-peak

  • Higher rates
  • Weekdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Does not include weekends or holidays.

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Off-peak

  • Lower rates
  • Weekdays before 5 p.m. and after 9 p.m.
  • Includes weekends and holidays [tooltip text="Holidays include:
    New Year's Day (January 1)
    Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
    Independence Day (July 4)
    Labor Day (first Monday in September)
    Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
    Christmas Day (December 25)"]

Energy Wise tips for businesses

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Pre‑cool your space

Cooling your building during off-peak hours helps reduce the need for heavy air conditioning during peak hours later in the day – saving on your bill. 

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Use programmable thermostats

Automated temperature scheduling lowers cooling before peak hours and allows small increases during peak times without impacting comfort.

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Improve customer comfort with ceiling fans

Ceiling fans help spaces feel cooler so you can reduce air conditioning use with minimal energy impact.

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Focus cooling where it’s needed

If your system allows, concentrate cooling in high‑traffic or occupied areas and reduce it in unused spaces. Regular filter changes, duct checks and system tune‑ups help equipment run efficiently and avoid unnecessary energy use.

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Adjust temperatures gradually

Raising or lowering your thermostat by just 1–2 degrees at a time can deliver meaningful savings without disrupting operations. 

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Use efficient lighting

Take advantage of natural light when possible, and use dimmers or automated controls to reduce unnecessary lighting. Timers and motion sensors are especially helpful in bathrooms, storage rooms, and less frequently used spaces.

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Power down when not in use

Set computers, registers, and televisions to low‑power mode to reduce energy consumption throughout the day.

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Use smart power strips

Smart strips help eliminate wasted energy from small devices, but should not be used for high‑power equipment.

Understanding demand

We have a responsibility to provide power to all of our customers and meet their electric demands. When several systems are being used at once, demand spikes - which can be costly - leading to higher charges on your bill.

As a community-owned utility, demand is a key factor of our electricity costs. 

kW (how fast it's used)

Electricity demand (kW), represents the strength of energy used at a moment in time.

kWh (how much is used)

Electricity consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), represents how much energy is used in total.

Watch: kW vs. kWh explained (YouTube)

Understanding demand charges

A demand charge is shown as a separate line item on your bill and is based on the highest amount of power a business customer uses at any given time, during a billing period.

It's calculated by peak demand multiplied by a charge per kilowatt and the number of days in the billing period.

Your demand for power increases when multiple appliances and equipment in your business run simultaneously. To save, stagger your use over multiple hours.

Demand charges are only applied to commercial and industrial accounts with 15-minute demands greater than 10kW.

Commercial rates

Industrial rates

Demand is calculated using the greatest 15-minute load during each billing period. Demand is calculated using the greatest 15-minutes load measured with rolling 5-minute intervals, plus a power factor adjustment if applicable.

 

Tips to save on demand charges

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Schedule equipment wisely

Avoid running major equipment at the same time when possible, and plan energy‑intensive tasks during lower‑demand periods. 

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Get free expert help

We offer free business energy and water audits to help identify savings opportunities, usage‑shifting options, and available rebates. 

Learn more
Questions & answers

How can I help manage my demand charge?

  • Scheduling: Use equipment and major appliances efficiently and schedule tasks to minimize demand and energy usage, when possible. For example, avoid using multiple major appliances at the same time.
  • Low-power mode: Put registers, computers, and televisions in low-power mode when not in use.
  • Power strips: Use smart power strips for small devices. However, avoid plugging in high-power equipment to prevent overloading.