BEMC TO LAUNCH MEMBER-FOCUSED PEAK DEMAND INITIATIVE IN DECEMBER
BEMC TO LAUNCH MEMBER-FOCUSED PEAK DEMAND INITIATIVE IN DECEMBER
Supply, N.C. (October 9, 2020) – Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC) will begin a new demand reduction initiative, Beat the Peak, in December. The objective of Beat the Peak is to level off peaks in energy usage that occur during the times of highest demand, therefore reducing wholesale power costs.
“We’ll be asking members to collectively reduce energy usage for a short period of time,” said CEO Josh Winslow. “There is strength in numbers, and by working together to lower demand during these times we can reduce the rate we pay for wholesale power, keeping everyone’s electric bill as low as possible.”
Beginning in December, BEMC members will be notified by text and/or email when extreme temperatures—like cold winter mornings or hot summer afternoons—are in the forecast. These “peak” energy periods create greater demand for electricity that drive up energy costs. Beat the Peak alerts encourage members to adjust their thermostats in real time and to shift when they use large appliances, reducing the overall demand for power. This allows the cooperative to better manage costs, saving money for everyone. Members that wish not to participate in the alert program will have a simple opt-out option.