Targeted energy conservation helps Jackson Electric in two important ways: supporting stable rates and a reliable grid. When Jackson Electric encourages members to reduce their electric use during periods of high demand, it’s not simply about saving energy. It’s about helping maintain balance between available power supply and energy use. This balance is a key factor in grid reliability and power supply economics.
Jackson Electric’s wholesale power provider, Dairyland Power, is part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) – the regional transmission organization responsible for balancing electricity supply and demand across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. MISO is always closely monitoring available generation resources to ensure there is enough power to meet demand.
On July 15, extreme heat across the region led MISO to declare a Maximum Generation (Max Gen) Event Step 2, which enables MISO to access additional generation resources from municipals and other regional transmission organizations. As temperatures climbed and electricity use increased, Dairyland Power scheduled a full load control event, also known as a Peak Alert, and Jackson Electric shared messaging asking cooperative members to help conserve energy.
July’s hot, humid weather led to high electricity demand and high power supply prices. Dairyland activated four Peak Alerts throughout the month to use as little power as possible during MISO’s peak demand, which helps save our cooperative money on future power bills. Member participation during these events helped reduce demand at critical times and also supported the reliability of the regional electric system.
Winter brought similar concerns. During the early morning hours of January 24, one of the coldest days of the winter, electricity demand surged as heating systems worked around the clock to keep homes warm. At the same time, some generation resources across the region experienced outages and reduced output. Regional demand once again approached levels that could have required emergency action.
If faced with severe reliability concerns, MISO could require emergency load reduction. If this occurs, Jackson Electric could be required to reduce its electrical load by approximately 25%. The cooperative may have to temporarily interrupt power to a distribution circuit served by one of our substations; outages would circulate throughout the service territory so only some members are off for a period of time, then restored. These controlled outages are designed to protect the stability of the larger electric grid and prevent a more widespread blackout.
The good news is that member conservation efforts can make a real difference. Actions taken during times of peak demand on the grid, such as adjusting thermostats, delaying the use of large appliances, reducing unnecessary lighting, and participating in load control programs, help lower overall demand during critical periods.
We appreciate our members’ cooperation during Peak Alerts and other conservation requests. By working together during periods of extreme heat and cold, we help ensure reliable electric service for our communities and contribute to the stability of the entire regional power grid.