Energy Sense : Load Management

Load Management Status Report

• Residential Accounts
   
• Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural Accounts

NOTE:  To get the most current information, be sure to force a refresh on the page(s) that open using the links above.  Contact us at 800-924-2133 with any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services (PPCS) has been extremely committed to energy conservation through its load management program for over 30 years, a program carried out in conjunction with our power supplier, Dairyland Power Cooperative.

What is load management?
Load management is a tool used to balance electrical supply and demand by shifting the time of use. It is also used as an economic tool to reduce load to decrease Dairyland’s cost to purchase energy. Load management is accomplished by interrupting electric water heaters, electric heating systems and central air conditioning units during peak demand and high energy cost periods. 

Note: Dairyland is now a member of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). MISO ensures reliable power and equal access to electric generation and transmission in 12 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. Dairyland sells all of the power from its generation resources into the MISO market and purchases all of its energy requirements from MISO based on market prices. Consequently, Dairyland’s use of load management may also be affected by the energy demands and weather patterns of the larger MISO region.

 What are the benefits of load management?
Load management saves energy and money. PPCS is one of 25 distribution cooperatives whose members have reduced Dairyland’s wholesale power system peaks by as much as 80 MW in the summer and 140 MW in the winter through the load management program. This program has helped defer the need to construct additional power plants or purchase expensive power during periods of high demand.

How is load management accomplished?
Electric water heating: All electric water heaters are intended to operate under PPCS’ load management program. Load management of electric water heaters can occur at any time, but during the winter months they are typically interrupted between 6-10 a.m. and 5-9 p.m. In the summer, water heaters are interrupted between 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., depending on the water heater size. PPCS encourages larger capacity water heaters to accommodate the longer load management durations. Please refer to the chart below.

*Estimated restoral times.  Actual times may vary slightly.

PPCS provides parts and service for electric water heaters. The member will be charged the current service call rate.

Central air conditioning: Air conditioning units connected to our load management system are cycled on 15 minutes and off 15 minutes during peak demand periods, typically between 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. during the summer months.

Electric heating: Electric heating systems that operate under PPCS’ load management program are subject to load management, typically during periods of extreme cold weather in the winter months.

Wiring Diagram
Please refer to the wiring diagram which illustrates the correct installation of the current transformer (CT) sub-metering of off-peak electric.  PPCS Wiring Diagram

What is a load management receiver?
The load management receiver is a small radio receiver that is connected to the electric water heater circuit or the off-peak electric heating equipment. During times of peak load, the receiver picks up a radio signal to interrupt power to the electric water heater, the electric heating equipment and/or the central air conditioning unit.The lights in the small window of the load management receiver indicate how the receiver is functioning.

• Green Light. The green test light will be on most of the time. This light indicates there is a proper power supply and radio signal to the receiver.
• Red Light. The electric water heater is being interrupted.
• Upper Left Red/Lower Left Amber. If you are a participant in PPCS’ dual-fuel program, a red light in the upper left corner or amber light in the lower left corner will appear in the receiver window when your electric heat is being interrupted. Absence of an amber or red light indicates normal operation of your electric heat. Another sign that load management has been initiated is that your backup source of heat will be operating.
• Cold Load Pickup. When power is restored after an outage, all load management receivers go into a 7-10 minute shutdown mode and all lights will be on. Following this phase, your system should again be operating normally.

Thank you for participating in PPCS’ load management program. If you have any questions, please contact PPCS at 715-273-4355, 800-924-2133  or send us an e-mail.

Load Management Status Report

• Residential Accounts
   
• Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural Accounts