A recent Record-Bee said that “California”s electricity grid manager declared a minor power emergency,” and that, “if that trend continues today, California would set a new all-time record for energy demand.” We are asked “to turn down air conditioners and restrict the use of heavy appliances during hot afternoon hours.” This happened last year whenever the temperature hovered around the century mark and promises only to worsen in the foreseeable future, unless we are willing to take personal action.
To all its customers, PG&E offers ?Time of Use” metering. Using it, power customers can obtain a lower rate during ?off hours” ? 6 p.m. to Noon weekdays plus weekends during the Summer and all hours during the Winter – in exchange for 2-3 times higher rates during the Summer ?peak hours.” This can lower our PG&E bills AND help reduce the threat of rolling blackouts by shifting our heavy power usage to ?off hours.”
Time of Use, by itself, is a good idea, but for those who have solar panels which pump power back into the grid exactly when it is most needed, imagine how great it is to get 2-3 times as much credit for the power we produce at these times!
Yes, it is during those ?peak hours” that everybody wants to run air conditioners but we run ours in the mornings at 70 degrees right up until noon. Then we shut it off and let our house temperature gradually creep up to about 80, turning it back on at 6PM until it is cool enough outside to open our windows for the night. Using that strategy, we can painlessly eliminate our electric bills, even on 100 degree days and actually build up credits of about $2/day during moderate weather to balance out the costs during rainy winter days.
Bill Barrows
Hidden Valley Lake
