North Baltimore, OH–January 7, 2015–At 11:00 a.m. today, Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative issued a Peak Alert and Load Control Notice for tomorrow morning to its more than 10,000 Members in 10 counties in northwest Ohio.
President and CEO George Walton said, “Based upon current forecasts for peak demand of electric use, we expect to conduct load control between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m, tomorrow, January 8. Voluntary reduction of high-energy use appliances such as clothes washers and dishwashers, and clothes and hair dryers is encouraged. These remote control measures are put in place to help stabilize rates for our members.”
Load control switches on heat-pumps, geothermal units and water heaters will be activated across northwest Ohio, affecting all 10 districts in the Hancock-Wood Electric Co-op service area, located in portions of Hancock, Wood, Allen, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties.
During this three-hour timeframe, a member whose electric water heater is equipped with a control switch will see a red light activate on the gray box located on each unit, indicating the load temporarily is being deferred. The member may continue to draw hot water; however, the water heater will not reheat until the control period concludes.
When heat pump unit load control switches are activated, the unit will be cycled off for eight to 12 minutes every one-half hour. The fan will continue to operate during this period so that comfort is maintained in the home. These devices will be restored immediately following the load control period.
A typical residential member with installed controls might see his or her home temperature temporarily fall by approximately 4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit depending on whether furnace or heat pump units are in use, but the desired temperature will return before significant discomfort is felt, said Walton.
The peak demand load control times are subject to change as forecasts are updated. The cooperative will provide notice if additional load control is required.
For more information, visit the Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative web site at www.hwe.coop, visit our Facebook pages for mainland northwest Ohio and for Kelleys Island, or call 800-445-4840.
