Michael E. Webber: What if utilities just gave money to people to reduce their power use during peak hours?
get rebates up to millions of dollars for turning off their facilities when power supplies are scarce. It’s time to extend that program to homeowners and renters.
Some electrical loads, such as hot water heaters, clothes dryers and swimming pool pumps, can be controlled to help shave peak demand significantly. But cooling systems present the biggest opportunity. Shutting off air-conditioners for just 15 minutes an hour during those four peak hours would, according to my estimates, reduce demand by 10 percent or more, taking significant pressure off the grid.
That’s a nice start, but there are about 400,000 households in Austin. This program should be scaled up and we should be paid much more for the benefits we provide on very hot afternoons. And participating is no great hardship. You can run your air-conditioners in the morning — when there is plenty of power available — to get your home nice and cool. When they’re switched off in the afternoon, you’re still comfortable.
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