GRE Member cooperative load management programs

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Cycled air conditioning

Available to central air conditioning (AC) loads and/or hard-wired room air conditioners that are connected to an approved load control device. During control periods, the air conditioner is cycled on and off. The cycling control strategy assures that the air conditioning load will be off for approximately 15 minutes out of every 30 minutes during the control period. This assures only a partial reduction in diversified demand. The cycling strategy can be applied to central air conditioning or air source heat pumps. Great River Energy may interrupt these loads for up to 6 hours per day and 200 hours per cooling season (May-Sep). Great River Energy reserves the right to extend the daily control period, but will only do so under extreme conditions.

Interruptible water heating

An interruptible water heating system has sufficient storage capacity to supply the user’s hot water needs over an extended period during which the electric supply is interrupted. The recommended minimum storage capacity recommended to qualify is 80 gallons. Qualified interruptible water heaters must have an approved load control device that allows for either 4 or 8 hours of interruption per day during all months when needed. Great River Energy’s 4-hour interruptible water heating program was closed to new loads on November 1, 2007.

Dual fuel

Dual fuel heating systems are a combination of electric and non-electric or electric and Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) space heating. Conventional electric is the primary heating system and oil, gas, LP, or ETS is the secondary or backup system. While wood backup is allowed, it is discouraged by Great River Energy because of the non-automatic nature and resultant secondary peaks created by such a combination when switched back to the primary electric system. With the exception of ETS backed systems, the secondary system must be capable of heating the entire home for an extended period of time. Great River Energy may interrupt these loads up to 12 hours per day and 400 hours per heating season (Sep-May).

ETS water heating

An Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) water heating system has sufficient storage capacity to supply the user’s hot water needs over an extended period each day when the electric supply is interrupted by Great River Energy. 100 gallons is the minimum storage capacity recommended to qualify the water heating system as an ETS storage system. Eligible ETS water heating systems must have an approved load control device that limits electric usage to Great River Energy’s nighttime recharge period. This recharge period generally occurs from 22:00 to 06:00 CPT each day. Recharge may be 8 continuous hours or in increments totaling 8 hours per day. Great River Energy has the option of allowing up to two hours of additional recharge time each day during the mid-morning or afternoon hours, subject to seasonal Great River Energy control strategies. Other special provisions may apply to dairy barn and senior citizen applications.

ETS space heating

An Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) heating system is capable of providing 100 percent of a home’s heating requirements by storing heat produced from electricity during Great River Energy’s nighttime recharge period. This recharge period generally occurs from 22:00 to 06:00 CPT each day. Great River Energy has the option of allowing up to two hours of additional recharge time each day during the mid-morning or afternoon hours, subject to seasonal Great River Energy control strategies.

Any number of mediums can be used to store heat during off-peak periods; the most common are water and ceramic. There are three commercially available storage heating configurations: central, room or dispersed, and slab. Proper sizing of an ETS space heating system requires that a professional heat loss analysis be conducted.

ChargeWise

Available to residential members for charging plug-in electric vehicles. Members must have a ChargeWise outlet installed, a meter that records total energy use through the ChargeWise outlet, and an approved load control device that limits electric usage to Great River Energy’s nighttime recharge period. This recharge period generally occurs from 23:00 to 07:00 CPT each day. Great River Energy has the option of allowing up to two hours of additional recharge time each day during the mid-morning or afternoon hours, subject to seasonal Great River Energy control strategies. Participation requires proof of PEV ownership and battery size for each vehicle.

Interruptible irrigation

Available to irrigation systems connected to an approved load control device. Controlled irrigation systems may be either automatic or manual restart. Great River Energy may interrupt these loads up to four (4) hours per day during the cooling season (May-Sep). Great River Energy will use its best efforts to schedule irrigation control times on a consistent basis each control day; however, Great River Energy reserves the right to control irrigation systems during any time of the day.

Interruptible metered C&I

The Interruptible Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Program provides Great River Energy with the ability to reduce its capacity and energy requirements during peak load conditions by interrupting all or a portion of a customer’s electrical load. Great River Energy has the right to control loads under each of the four program options for up to 300 hours per calendar year. A 30-minute advance warning prior to control is available to the customer, if requested. Commercial and Industrial loads can be interrupted in the following manners:

• Full interruptible – The customer agrees to completely curtail their entire electrical energy load for up to six (6) hours per occurrence.
• Partial interruptible – The customer agrees to reduce their electrical energy load to an agreed upon Predetermined Demand Level (“PDL”) measured in kilowatts (kW) for up to six (6) hours per occurrence.

C&I with GenSet

The Interruptible Commercial and Industrial Program provides Great River Energy with the ability to reduce its capacity and energy requirements during peak load conditions by interrupting all or a portion of a customer’s electrical load. Great River Energy has the right to control loads under each of the four program options for up to 300 hours per calendar year. A 30-minute advance warning prior to control is available to the customer, if requested. Commercial and Industrial loads can be interrupted in the following manners:

• Full interruptible with generator backup – The customer agrees to transfer their entire electrical energy load to the customer-owned generator for up to ten (10) hours per occurrence.
• Partial interruptible with generator backup – The customer agrees to transfer a portion of their electrical energy load to the customer-owned generator and reduce their electrical energy load to an agreed upon PDL measured in kilowatts (kW) for up to ten (10) hours per occurrence.

Energy storage – electric vehicle

Available to all commercial members for charging electric vehicles, such as cars, golf carts, forklifts, etc., that can operate “around-the-clock.” Member must have a dedicated circuit, a meter that records total energy use on the circuit, and an approved load control device that limits electric usage to Great River Energy’s nighttime recharge period. This recharge period generally occurs from 23:00 to 07:00 CPT each day. Great River Energy has the option of allowing up to two hours of additional recharge time each day during the mid-morning or afternoon hours, subject to seasonal Great River Energy control strategies.