Load Management

All decisions regarding this program will be made using the positive effect on load factor as the first priority. First priority will be given to those actions that will increase off peak load and/or shift loads from peak period to off peak periods. The lowest priority will be given to options that will remove peak loads that are lost to the system.

The Traverse Electric Load Management Program will be consistent and compatible with similar programs established by generation and/or transmission cooperatives serving Traverse Electric. Traverse Electric will strive to promote uniformity of load management programs among distribution cooperatives which are members of East River Electric provided such uniformity is not in conflict with the best interests of Traverse Electric's members.

The following programs will constitute Traverse Electric's Load Management Program.

1. Controlled Water Heaters:

   1. Traverse Electric shall provide a Load Management Program for control of electric water heaters.  To qualify for this program a member may have a control installed on one or more 50 gallon or larger, functioning electric water heater with a heating element or elements of at least 1,500 watts. Traverse Electric reserves the right to determine the eligibility of each water heater.

   2. Any water heaters qualifying for this program must be controlled by a device installed, owned and inspected by Traverse Electric.

   3. The control system will be installed by Traverse Electric and will be sealed. If the seal is broken or tampered with Traverse Electric shall have the right to apply the same penalties that apply to meter tampering. In addition, Traverse Electric may refuse all credits that apply to a controlled water heater.

   4. Traverse Electric reserves the right to interrupt power to controlled water heaters during peak use periods for periods of time up to five hours.

   5. In return for allowing the power to the water heater to be controlled, the member consumer shall receive a credit of one cent per kilowatt hour on each kilowatt hour used in a month between three hundred kilowatt hours and seven hundred kilowatt hours as shown on the main meter. The maximum credit to be received for any controlled water heater shall be four  dollars ($4) per month.

   6. If there is a second water heater located in the home of the member consumer, the second water heater must be controlled, but there will be no credit given on the second water heater.

   7. If a second water heater is controlled elsewhere on the site, one cent per kilowatt hour credit will be applied on usage between one thousand and fourteen hundred kilowatt hours, as shown on the main meter.

2. Dual Heat:

   1. Dual heat shall be defined as a heating system that combines two heating systems,     one electric primary heat source and one non electric secondary heat source, that may be used singly to heat the entire structure for a period of at least eight hours.

   2. Any dual fuel system qualifying for this program must be controlled by a system, installed, owned, and inspected by Traverse Electric. The system shall also include a sub-meter owned by Traverse Electric.

   3. The control system will be installed by Traverse Electric or by a licensed contractor and inspected by Traverse Electric.  The control system and sub-meter will be sealed. If the seal is broken or tampered with, Traverse Electric shall have the right to apply the same penalties that apply to meter tampering.  In addition, Traverse Electric may refuse all credits that apply to a controlled Dual Fuel System.

   4. All equipment other than the control unit, socket, CT, and sub meter will be purchased and installed by the member consumer and shall be the property and responsibility of  the member consumer.

   5. If the Dual Fuel System is a forced air gas or fuel oil system with resistant heat (either a plenum heater, permanently installed baseboard heating, or resistant heat cables) Traverse Electric reserves the right to interrupt power to the electric heat system during peak use periods.

   6. If the Dual Fuel System is a hydronic system (either hot water or steam) fired by gas or fuel oil with an electric boiler, Traverse Electric reserves the right to interrupt power to the electric heat system during peak periods.

   7. In return for allowing the electric power to the Dual Fuel System to be controlled , the member consumer shall receive a credit (based on the dual fuel rate) for each killowatt hour shown on the sub meter.

   8. Any member consumer involved in the Dual Fuel Program will sign a Waiver of Liability Form that releases Traverse Electric from liability for damage caused by the functioning or malfunctioning of the Dual Fuel System.

3. Irrigation:

   1. Any irrigation system qualifying for this program must be controlled by a device owned, installed and inspected by Traverse Electric. The control must be a remotely activated control system as designated by Traverse Electric.

   2. The control system will be installed by Traverse Electric and will be sealed. If the seal is broken or tampered with Traverse Electric shall have the right to apply the same penalties that apply to meter tampering. In addition, Traverse Electric may refuse any credits or special rates that apply to a controlled irrigation system.

   3. If a remotely activated controller is used, Traverse Electric reserves the right to interrupt the power to the irrigation system during peak use periods.

   4. Should the member consumer determine that he/she cannot continue with the interruptions caused by control, he/she may cut the seal on the control unit and operate at his/her own discretion. If a member takes this action, he/she will be billed at the regular demand/energy rate for irrigators during the entire monthly billing period and until Traverse Electric is able to read the meter and reseal it.

4. Central Air: Any member wishing to have their central air controlled will furnish the metering equipment except for the meter that will be furnished by the Cooperative. 

5. Other: Traverse Electric will, at its discretion, offer incentive rates to any member, group or members or class of members whose electrical use allows development of programs or strategies that will increase the load factor of the Cooperative's system. Development of these incentives shall insure that programs offered will improve the systems's load factor and that rates will produce sufficient revenue to cover the complete cost of service.

6. Availability and Limitations:

   1. Each Load Management Program is available to member consumers on a first come, first served basis.

   2. The ability of Traverse Electric to absorb equipment on control is limited in terms of producing benefits for the Cooperative's members and to avoid counter productive results through the creation of new peaks due to having too much equipment under control. When the optimum amount of controlled equipment is achieved, the quantity of future installations shall be limited to that amount which is offset by system load growth at a rate that is deemed most beneficial to the Cooperative's members.

The Manager and department heads are responsible for the administration of this policy.

The Board of Directors is responsible for any change in or revision of this policy.