Full load control (FLC) typically takes place when demand for electricity is peaking in the mid-west (MISO market)
Economic control takes place when the market price is too high to pass onto the membership.
     Many anticipated economic controls do not take place, but could if the need arose.

Anticipated number of winter control events:
     Full load control (FLC) - 6:55 a.m. - restoral begins at 10:05 a.m. 
          December, January, February
          Max 7 events for the season
          Max 3 events per month
          ** Notification sent out the evening prior to the morning event (if you enroll in load notification)
     Economic control - possible evening events
          November, December, January, February, March, April
          Electric resistance heat (no back up) - 10 events (5 p.m.- 8 p.m.)
          Electric resistance heat (with back up) - 30 events (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
          Small water heaters - 10 events (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
          Large water heaters - 10 events (5 p.m. - 10 p.m.)
          Dairy water heaters - 2 events (5 p.m. - 10 p.m.)
          ** Notification sent out approximately 1-2 hours prior to control event (if you enroll in load notification)
Note:  Most Electronic Thermal Storage (ETS) and large water heaters are controlled on a daily basis.

Members wanting prior notification of control events can sign up using the Load Control Notification Enrollment form on this webpage.

If you are not sure how your control is set up, call 800-421-0283 ext. 595 and we can provide that information based on your off-peak load(s). 

If you have added automatic backup heat or removed automatic back up heat, make sure you call us to update your control times to accommodate those changes.

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 helps keep rates affordable.

Controlling is done with a Comverge (approx. 6” x 8”) or Entek (approx. 2” x 4”) radio receiver with indicator lights.     

                         

- Green lights indicate power to the receiver.
- Yellow lights indicate control of A/C and electric resistance heat, such as baseboard and heat pumps.
- Red lights indicate control of all participating water heaters and storage heat such as Steffes electric thermal storage heaters and Marathon® 80-105 gallon water heaters.
- No lights in the overnight hours - typically in the overnight hours there are no lights in the receiver.  To save money we do not pay to send out signals overnight.
- No lights in the receiver during the day - the breaker which supplies the radio receiver may be shut off or the LED light may be burnt out.

If there is a blinking yellow light on the receiver, please call for a service signal to be sent out to clear the receiver.

If at any time the power to the radio receiver is interrupted, power to the water heater/electric heat is delayed 7-10 minutes after power is restored to the receiver.  During this time you may notice all of the receiver lights going on/off until the correct control signal is locked in.

Under normal conditions, you should not run out of hot water. If you do, please call Polk-Burnett, 800-421-0283, ext. 595. We can help diagnose if you are having a problem with the water heater or if the problem is related to the control time.  In most cases we can change the control time if needed.

Members with electric resistance heat (baseboard or heat pumps) and no storage or thermostatically controlled fossil fuel backup heat can expect to be without heat for up to four hours during a control period.
Members with an automatic backup storage or thermostatically controlled heating system can expect to be off for up to six hours during a control time.

It is the homeowners responsibility to make sure that there is adequate heat to kept the pipes from freezing during a control event.  If your home is heated by baseboard only, you may want to look into adding a thermostatically controlled backup heat, such as an ETS unit or gas fireplace.  You may want to check your home for proper insulation levels also to help retain the heat in the home.  Polk-Burnett offers a rebate for home testing and subsequent improvements based on the test results.

If you have removed your backup heat or added additional heat to your home, please contact Polk-Burnett so that we can adjust your load management control times as this may affect how well your home stays heated during a control event.

If you wish to receive load control event notifications sign up using the Load Control Notification Enrollment form on this webpage.

If you would like to receive notification of a load control event, please fill out the form on this load management page to enroll.

Once enrolled you will receive a notification via phone call, email, or text as you requested.

For FLC events you will receive the notification the evening prior to the morning event.

For economic control events you will receive the notification 1-2 hours prior to the evening control event.

If you have electric heat with no automatic backup heat source you may wish to receive these notifications to allow you to turn up the heat for an hour or so prior to your baseboard or geothermal system being shut off.