Lake Region Electric Cooperative
LREC will be performing an extended winter season test of the capabilities of peak shave and off-peak water heater load control. The load control test will help us determine if the resultant wholesale power cost reduction will translate into rate benefits for program participants and your co-op as a whole.
The test will involve large capacity (80 to 105 gallon) off-peak water heaters currently controlled as needed to avoid the Great River Energy (GRE) generation and transmission system peaks. Beginning November 1st, 2019 and continuing through April 30th, 2020, off-peak water heaters will also be controlled to avoid the peaks on the local transmission system that is owned and operated by another local utility. The test will not include large capacity water heaters on the ETS everyday control program or small tank 4-hour control water heaters.
The GRE system peaks in the evening, while the local transmission provider’s system tends to peak in the morning. We expect to control five to eight times a month on weekday mornings (5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) to avoid the local transmission peak. Based on load control history, we know that managing the GRE peak will require two to four evening control events per month.
We will continue to provide day ahead notification of GRE peaks on the homepage. We will try to provide advance notice for local transmission peaks on the website as well but it may not always be possible to provide day ahead notice.
We encourage your completion of the full test between November and April, but if you have any issues with the additional morning control, please contact our Energy Management Department and you may be excused from the local transmission control.