After a long winter, I’m excited to welcome sunshine and warmer weather. Although summer officially starts on June 21, I consider May the real beginning, as temperatures typically rise and stay warm for extended periods.

This month, I’m not really focusing on the excitement of the changing weather. Instead, I want to talk about how the weather affects the use of electricity, especially during the months of high summer cooling costs. 

If you’re new to our co-op or haven’t experienced a summer with us yet, you may be unfamiliar with our time-of-use (TOU) rate. This billing system charges different rates for electricity depending on the time of day. By shifting some of your energy use to mornings, late evenings, or other off-peak times, you can lower your bill and help the co-op manage costs for everyone. Last year’s rollout of the time-of-use (TOU) rate gave members more control over their electrical costs. We encouraged everyone to be mindful of their energy use during “on-peak” times, between 4 and 7 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday when demand and costs are highest for the co-op. This is typically when temperatures peak, air conditioners work hardest, and many members return home and start household tasks, driving up demand.

Now that members have been using the TOU rate for over a year, we hope you’ve noticed the positive impact of shifting your energy use. As summer approaches, we’re not asking you to stop using your air conditioning or sit in the dark during peak hours. Instead, consider small adjustments, like doing laundry or running the dishwasher in the morning or late evening, watering your lawn in the early morning, keeping window shades closed during the hottest part of the day, or raising your thermostat by a degree or two. These steps can make a meaningful difference.

Thanks to our membership’s efforts last year, the co-op was able to lower the cost of the power we purchased for you from Wabash Valley Power Alliance. This then led to everyone receiving a rebate last December and a 6% retail rate decrease through a tracker starting this past January. We truly appreciated your help last year, and especially during the summer. As we head into this summer, we ask that you continue to be mindful of when you use energy. We understand that not everything can be shifted outside of on-peak times, but even small changes can make a big difference in what you and your fellow members pay for electricity.

If you have questions about the time-of-use rate structure, feel free to contact our office. You can also visit kvremc.com for more information by clicking the My Account tab, then Time-of-Use.