Dealing with Evening Peak

A new trend has begun to emerge, says the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) , which could have a significant impact on local utility organizations. This involves a shift of peak demand for power from the day’s mid-afternoon hours to the evening hours.

The ACEEE says that in many regions of the country, evening peak periods have been on the rise – largely as more and more consumers buy and install air conditioners, whether Window AC units or PTAC Systems -- and then switch them on when they get home from work.

Two other factors are also contributing to the trend: The number of consumer-owned photovoltaic power systems is on the rise. These arrays tend to generate most of their power during the sunshine of the afternoon, which is when peak has traditionally occurred. However, once the sun goes down, the need for power remains strong. And since it can’t be produced by the solar cells, the demand for that extra power suddenly increases.

One other factor impacting evening peak: The popularity of electric cars, which seems to be resulting in more drivers charging their cars when they get home from work at night.

In order to address the growth of evening peak, says the ACEEE, manufacturers, utilities and customers should focus on energy efficiency – especially measures that cut back on evening peak such as water heaters, efficient lamps and cooking devices.

Utilities might also find themselves establishing and adjusting rates they charge for power based on what time of day that power is called upon for use. This could result in raising the price of energy during peak periods and in lowering those rates during non-peak times.

This, in turn, suggests that consumers might want to look into various ways for keeping their residences cooler during the sunny hours, so that there is not as great a need for full-power AC at the end of a long work day.

Questions about how you can best keep your home cool and comfortable? Contact AC World today!