Energy control
What is energy control or demand-side management?
It's a program that allows customers to buy electricity for about half the cost of our standard uncontrolled service rate.
Energy control (sometimes referred to as demand-side management) makes it possible for Otter Tail Power Company to reduce energy use and manage the load on our lines. Energy control is often required when our customers operate many electrical devices at the same time creating periods of high demand, during testing or emergency periods (such as during storm restorations), and when energy prices on the wholesale market are high and we must purchase energy to supplement or replace our own low-cost generation.
High demand periods have historically occurred during extreme weather conditions such as frigid winter days when heating systems run often or during sultry summer afternoons when the air-conditioning requirements are the greatest. But more and more we're seeing that a need to control energy due to high demand periods may occur at any time.
Energy control represents a true partnership between Otter Tail Power Company and its customers because the option of controlling energy helps us avoid unplanned and high-priced energy purchases, which in turn helps to keep our rates affordable.
Only customers who have signed up to save with special off-peak electric rates are subject to energy control. In most cases, Otter Tail Power Company controls the power supplied to these systems with radio signals. During periods of peak electric demand, a radio signal activates the switch, which turns off certain equipment. When electric demand decreases, a second radio signal returns the equipment to normal operation.
In exchange for permitting Otter Tail Power Company to control their systems, customers receive electric rates that are about half the price of our standard electric rate.
