Buckeye Power, Inc., the generation and transmission cooperative that supplies Buckeye REC, set a new peak of record (POR) for demand during one of the hottest days of the year.
At 2 p.m. on July 25, statewide temperatures and high heat indices caused a new POR of 1,483 megawatts. This exceeded the former 1,424-megawatt POR set in December of 2004.
During this summer peaking event, Buckeye REC’s coincidental peak was 55,937 kilowatts, which was not a new record. BREC has managed during the last two peak periods to actually reduce its demand from a high of 67,908 kilowatts set in January of 2003.
Buckeye REC’s winter POR is now 63,735 kilowatts, and its summer peak is 55,937.
A new formula for calculating demand charges now recognizes and weights both peaks.
“We are waiting for the numbers to be finalized, but it appears this summer peaking event will actually help us by further lowering demand charges,” said Steve Oden, Buckeye REC’s vice president of Member Services.
Oden thanked cooperative members for their conservation efforts during the peak event. Residents with radio-controlled water heater switches experienced full load control, and other members responded to peak alert warnings issued on local radio stations and stories in newspapers.
“In the future, we will also use the Buckeye REC Internet home page to notify members of peak alert situations,” added Oden. “During times of impending sub-freezing cold or extreme summer heat, the co-op’s home page will have peak alert warnings on it, with advice of steps to take to help conserve electricity.”
The page may be accessed at www.buckeyerec.com, Oden said.
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