Residential Demand Control (RDC)
Get rewarded with a lower rate
Help us manage energy system peaks by enrolling in our Residential Demand Control (RDC) rate. As a result, you’ll get a rate that’s about 25% lower than our standard electricity rate—which saves our typical customers around $300 a year on energy costs.
RDC may be a good option if you use electricity for all or part of your home-heating needs, or if you typically have higher-than-average electricity use because this discounted rate is applied to all the energy you use in your home.
How it works
You’ll need to have an electrician wire a demand controller (which you can purchase or lease from us, see details below) to your electric service panel. Then we’ll wire a radio receiver to your electric service meter.
During peak hours we’ll send a signal to the receiver. The demand controller will shut down part of the electric load that’s operating in your house to meet a pre-determined demand setting that you’ve chosen. Typically, electric heat, your water heater, and your dryer are connected to the controller and managed automatically.
If your household demand is still above your selected demand setting after appliances have been automatically shut off, the demand controller will signal you to shut off more appliances, like your TV, stove, microwave, and lights. When you meet your demand setting, the signal will stop.
Later, when the peak period has passed, a second radio signal is sent to your demand controller to return the loads to normal use.
Program eligibility and details
You must have an approved demand-control system to participate.
We offer a Brayden model 9312 residential demand controller for purchase or lease. You can purchase the unit for $850, or lease it for $18 a month for 48 months, after which time you can purchase it for $1. Lease payments are added to your monthly electric service bill.
While the demand controller unit does add to your up-front costs, you’ll find that the significant annual savings on your electric bill generally pay back the cost of the system within a few years.
Rate codes and rates
Residential Demand Control (RDC): 241
The RDC rate applies to all the energy used in your home—lighting, heating, water heating, cooking, refrigeration, air-conditioning, and other general uses of electricity. Service may be controlled up to 14 hours a day.
Billing includes energy charges, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), as well as a demand charge, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). Demand charges are based on your highest one-hour winter-season demand reading during a control period in the most recent 12 months. If you’re new to the RDC rate, we’ll use an estimated demand of 3 kW until your demand rate is determined.
This rate is available to customers with approved demand-control systems and applies to lighting, heating, water heating, cooking, refrigeration, air-conditioning, and other general uses of electricity. The demand charge, measured in kilowatts, is based on a customer's highest one-hour winter-season demand reading during a control period in the most recent 12 months. Service may be controlled up to 14 hours a day.
| Minnesota | North Dakota | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer charge | $11.00 | $18.38 | $13.00 |
| Monthly minimum bill | Customer + facilities + demand charges |
Customer + demand charges | Customer + demand charges |
| Facility charge | NA | NA | NA |
| Demand charge/kW June - September |
$8.00 | $6.52 | $7.05 |
| Demand charge/kW October - May |
$8.00 | $2.63 | $5.93 |
| Kilowatt-hour charge June - September |
6.425¢ | 4.257¢ | 2.022¢ |
| Kilowatt-hour charge October - May |
6.738¢ | 4.301¢ | 2.399¢ |
| Download | Download | Download |
Get more details about RDC rate terms
Ready to enroll in the RDC rate?
Contact our Customer Service Center or call 800-257-4044 during business hours to enroll in this rate program.
