Most of us only think about how much electricity we use, but utilities also care about when we use it.
Peak demand occurs during the hours when everyone is using electricity at the same time—running air conditioners, charging vehicles, cooking dinner, doing laundry and powering electronics. This is the hidden driver behind rising electric costs.
Those few hours can determine how much generating capacity utilities must maintain all year long. That’s why reducing peak demand has become one of the most important strategies for controlling electricity costs.
Homeowners can help by:
Many of these actions cost little—or nothing—but collectively they help reduce pressure on the grid.
As New Jersey continues to electrify transportation and buildings, managing peak demand will become even more important.
A smarter grid starts with smarter energy use.
