Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA — During the 1970s energy crisis, the Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative implemented the Load Management Program to help hold down power costs for its customers on high power-use days year-round. With ever-increasing energy needs and costs, and to celebrate 30 years of saving energy, NOVEC is campaigning for more customers to join the 43,000 customers already enrolled in the Cooperative's Load Management Program.
NOVEC pays an annual charge based on the average amount of power used during the five highest-use hours from the previous year, usually between 2 and 6 p.m. on the hottest days in the summer. This charge gets passed along to customer-owners. Reducing electricity use during these peak hours reduces NOVEC's – and all customers' – bills all year long.
Ken Blaylock, manager, NOVEC substations and telecommunications department, explains that when customers reduce their electricity use, NOVEC reduces its total wholesale power costs and passes those savings to customers each month. The average cost per customer for the 2009 peak demand charge is $335. Blaylock says, "By shaving use just 10 percent, NOVEC customers could realize a collective savings of about $4.7 million."
Blaylock says NOVEC's load management program has saved the Co-op and its customers more than $40 million dollars over the last 30 years.
How NOVEC's Load Management Program Works
Under the program, NOVEC installs on a customer's electric water heater a switch the Co-op can use remotely to turn off the heater for approximately two hours a day when power use soars. An insulated water heater will hold most of its heat during this short period.
If a customer participates in the air conditioner program, NOVEC will install a switch it can use to turn off the compressor for 10 minutes out of every half-hour during peak-use periods.
Customer Benefits
- Lower Electric Bills
Savings from lower wholesale power charges are passed on to all NOVEC customers.
- Electric Water Heater Repair
If a participating homeowner's electric water heater malfunctions, NOVEC will make a free diagnostic service call. NOVEC will replace, free of charge, malfunctioning thermostats, elements, reset buttons, and fuses. (Leaking water heaters and pipes are not covered, since they are plumbing issues. However, NOVEC Solutions, a NOVEC-owned company, can provide a new energy-efficient water heater at a competitive price.)
- First-Call Response for Air Conditioner Problems
If a participating homeowner's air conditioner is not working, NOVEC will send a service representative to the home to help diagnose the problem, free of charge. The homeowner avoids paying for an unnecessary service visit.
- Assistance 24-7
For water heater repair or air conditioner evaluation, customers may call NOVEC at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Customers may obtain more information and enroll in the Load Management Program by visiting www.novec.com/loadmanagement12 or by calling 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500
