PGE Holds First Summer 2020 Peak Time Rebate Event
Posted on July 1, 2020 by Will Gehrke
Tags, Energy
Editor’s note: This blog was published on the CUB Blog on July 30, 2019, and has been reposted here with substantial edits.
Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Peak Time Rebate program has been in place for a year. This program provides a financial incentive for customers, either in single-family or multi-family dwellings with their own dedicated metered service, to reduce energy usage in the afternoon on extreme temperature days. On June 23, PGE activated this program for the first time during the summer of 2020 between the hours of 5pm - 8pm.
How does this program work?
The day before an unusually hot or cold day, the company identifies a period of time in the afternoon in which energy demand will be the highest. This timeframe typically corresponds with residential customers coming home (from work, school, errands, etc.). PGE provides notice to its customers via email or text message about an upcoming “peak time event”. The company’s notification asks customers to shift their energy usage in order to avoid peak energy consumption. PGE provides a $1 per kWh rebate for customers who participate in each peak time event. The Peak Time Rebate program is optional for residential customers, who must sign up in advance to participate, and there are no penalties for customers who opt out.
How do I shift my energy usage?
- The largest energy user in residential homes is space heating and cooling. A simple way to shift energy usage is to use a smart or programmable thermostat to preheat or precool your home in the hours before a peak event.
- Avoid using household appliances, particularly high-impact appliances such as your clothes washer or dishwasher.
- If your home uses an electric water heater, avoid using hot water before or during the peak time period.
- Unplug TVs, digital clocks, cellphone and laptop chargers, and any appliances with an “on/off” button – these devices use power if left plugged into an electrical outlet (even when turned off!)
- If you own an EV (thousands of PGE households have EVs), do not charge it during these hours.
What are the benefits of the program?
- Peak time rebates give residential customers an easy way to save money on their energy bills.
- This program could avoid the burning of natural gas in the region. If the peak time rebates can shave demand for electricity, it is possible that gas turbine burns in the Pacific NW could be avoided.
During this recent peak time rebate event, I was able to reduce my home energy usage by 1.2 kWh by precooling my home earlier in the day. To maximize my savings, I unplugged all the electronics in my home before the event began. On my next bill from PGE, I will receive a $1.20 rebate.
PGE predicts that there will be at least five peak time rebate periods each year. Over the past year, I have saved around $40 on my energy bills by participating in this program. I will be sure to take advantage of these periodic opportunities to save energy at home, and encourage readers who are PGE customers to consider participating as well!
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06/29/20 | 1 Comment | PGE Holds First Summer 2020 Peak Time Rebate Event