Click the image below to see if you are currently being controlled:
Why do we need load management?
How is electricity controlled?
What are the hours my equipment is controlled?
Will I run out of hot water?
How often and how long will my heat be off?
What if there are no lights in the radio receiver?
How do I know if I'm currently being controlled?
Load Management
Load management is a program used to control the power to residential water heaters, central air conditioners and off-peak electric heat.
To help reduce electric demand and control costs to our members, controlling is done on the hottest and coldest days of the year when peak electric demands are at their highest. As the demand for electricity increases, the ability to control loads is becoming more valuable to our members. By controlling electric loads during peak times, we are able to avoid having to purchase power on the open market, which is considerably more expensive during demand periods. (return to top)
Why do we need load management?
When we reduce energy use during peak demand times, we forestall the need to build new, expensive electricity generation facilities and transmission equipment to meet your electrical needs. Load management also provides for more efficient use of the facilities we have, which means we can hold future rate increases to a minimum.
How is electricity controlled?
Controlling is done with a Comverge (approx. 6” x 8”) or Entek (approx. 2” x 4”) radio receiver with indicator lights. If your radio receiver is a Scientific Atlanta or General Electric model click here.
- Green lights indicate power to the receiver.
- Yellow lights indicate control of A/C and electric resistant heat, such as baseboard and heat pumps.
- Red lights indicate control of water heaters and storage heat such as Steffes thermal storage heaters and Marathon® 105-gallon water heaters. (return to top)
What are the hours my equipment is controlled?
Typically, the control takes place on the hottest and coldest days of the year. The control generally occurs during the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., but can happen at any time of the day when high demand occurs. (return to top)
Will I run out of hot water?
Under normal conditions, you should not run out of hot water. If you do, please call Polk-Burnett, 800-421-0283, ext. 318/319. We can help diagnose if you are having a problem with the water heater or if the problem is related to the control time. (return to top)
How often and how long will my heat be off?
Polk-Burnett's electricity provider, Dairyland Power Cooperative, controls electric heat during peak demand situations. The demand of the system is directly related to the cold temperatures. The longer extreme cold temperature lasts, the more control times you will experience.
Members with electric resistance heat (baseboard or heat pumps) and no storage or fossil fuel backup heat, can expect to be without heat for up to four hours during a control period.
Members with an automatic backup heating system can expect to be off for up to six hours during a control time. (return to top)
What if there are no lights in the radio receiver?
This is typical during the over night hours or if the breaker that powers your load management device is turned off. Otherwise, there is always a green light displayed in the radio receiver window indicating everything is working properly. If at any time power to the radio receiver is interrupted, power to the water heater is delayed seven and one-half minutes after power is restored to the receiver. (return to top)
Click below to see if you are currently being controlled:
Residential Load Management
Commercial Load Management
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