Off-Peak

More Information

Downloads

Links


One of the most efficient and affordable ways to heat your home is with off-peak electric heat. An off-peak heating system consists of an electric heat source as its main component and a backup, automatic heating source that will typically operating between 250 and 500 hours per year during time of peak electrical usage.

In exchange for allowing your electric heat to be controlled during times of peak usage, you receive a low off-peak electric heating rate that is about 50% less than the regular rate and competitive with the price of fuels such as propane and fuel oil.

A variety of efficient electric heating systems including plenum heaters, baseboards, floor heat, heat pumps and electric thermal storage systems are compatible with off-peak provide you have a reliable and automatic back-up fossil fuel or thermal storage heating system. The exceptions to needing a back-up system are certain floor heat applications that have a heat storage base and a properly sized thermal storage system that releases its own stored heat during control times.

Off-Peak Checklist

  • We always recommend obtaining bids from more than one contractor and calculating your payback as you decide what choice is best for you.
  • Installation of your off-peak electric heating system should be done by a qualified heating contractor and/or electrician.
  • The cooperative supplies an off-peak electric meter and ripple control device that will automatically switch your heating system from on-peak to off-peak when needed.
  • The off-peak meter should be located on the outside of the building.
  • The off-peak rate will not be given until the ripple controlling device is installed and the cooperative has been called to check out the system. At that time, the off-peak meter will be installed. There is a monthly $2 facility charge for off-peak.
  • Federal tax credits are available for qualifying systems.
  • Your cooperative also offers many incentives for installing qualifying energy-efficient heating systems.
  • Other loads that can be hooked up to load control and receive a monthly credit are: electric water heaters and clothes dryers. These loads must be in the main service panel as they receive a monthly credit instead of a kilowatt-hour rate.

Member service staff are always happy to speak or meet with you to discuss your specific off-peak heating needs. If you would like more information please send us an email at info@rrvcoop.com.