Keeping Your Cool During Summer Peaks

As Texas weather prepares to transition from spring to summer, United’s Energy Solutions Team is gearing up for the summer heat and preparing for the months when demand reaches its extreme levels.  

Each year, a portion of United’s power costs are calculated based on the co-op’s overall energy demand during the ERCOT peaks in June, July, August and September. If United can predict and shed load during those peaks, then this type of energy usage management can lead to significant savings for the following year (12 months), which translates into significant savings for members. 

“It is extremely challenging to correctly predict when the ERCOT peaks will occur during the four summer months,” said Blake Beavers, chief membership services officer. “We are trying to identify the highest 15-minute usage interval for the entire month before it happens. When the heat sets in, and we have a long stretch of days exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, a new peak could be set each day.” 

The graph to the below shows the dates and times of the 2025 summer peaks along with the high temperatures on each day. 

United encourges members to shed load during the ERCOT peaks by participating in two completely free and voluntary programs, Beavers said. The more United members participate in the programs, the more they can assist in lowering the cooperative’s and members’ overall energy costs for the upcoming year. 

Bring Your Own Thermostat Program
Bring Your Own Thermostat Program (BYOT) is a program developed in 2016 to help United’s residential members reduce usage during peak periods. Members who enrolled a Nest thermostat in 2016 and who have remained enrolled through today, have received nearly $650 in monetary incentives from United.

So how does it work? United residential members with qualifying Nest or Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats can opt into United’s BYOT through United’s website. Enrollment links are available for each manufacturer and members should note that some models are not compatible or eligible for enrollment in the program. To see if your model is compatible, or for more information about enrollment, visit ucs.net/thermostat-program. 

What to Expect During a Peak
During a projected peak usage event, a participating member’s thermostat will automatically adjust temperatures to reduce energy usage. 

Nest thermostats will pre-cool the home an hour ahead of time and then tweak the temperature up a few degrees from the normal set point when the peak usage event starts. This will reduce the runtime during peak times. United typically uses participating Nest thermostats for approximately two hours.

United schedules shorter events for Honeywell thermostats because they do not possess pre-cooling capabilities. Typically, United uses Honeywell thermostats for approximately an hour during peak times. Like Nest thermostats, Honeywell thermostats raise the temperature a few degrees from the set point when the peak usage event begins, minimizing energy use during the scheduled event. If needed, members can always override the scheduled event and adjust the temperature. Members  retain complete control of their thermostat.

Below are the program guidelines:

• There will be no more than 20, three-hour events each summer.

• Events can occur anytime between 3-8 p.m. on weekdays or weekends.

• There will only be one event per day, and there will never be more than four events per week.

• The program period spans four months of summer from June 1 to Sept. 30.

Incentives
As in years past, United offers a $50 rebate for new purchases of Nest and Honeywell Smart Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats. A rebate application must be filled out and sent to United, along with proof of purchase. To qualify, members must send in the rebate application within 60 days of purchase. 

After enrolling the thermostat in United’s BYOT, members will receive a $10 bill credit for each of the four months they are enrolled (June, July, August and September). For households with multiple thermostats, members will receive a $10 bill credit for each thermostat enrolled per month. The bill credit will be applied the following month. For example, if the thermostat is enrolled in June, the bill credit will appear in July.

Beat the Peak
Beat the Peak is another voluntary United program that alerts United members by text or email to reduce load during possible peak-demand periods. Alerts also are announced on United’s Facebook page and X account (formerly Twitter). 

Members can sign up for this program through United’s website, and enrolled members receive alerts that give the expected peak time frame for that day. During peak periods, members are advised to turn off unnecessary lights and delay using major appliances until the alert time has passed. These appliances include clothes dryers, ovens, stove tops and dishwashers, pool pumps and electric car chargers. Members also are encouraged to raise the thermostat a few degrees—the optimum being 78 degrees during the summer.

There is no direct monetary compensation for participating in Beat the Peak, however, by performing these actions, the cooperative’s overall usage drops. As a nonprofit, United then passes energy savings on to its entire membership through reduced power costs. To learn more and sign up, members can visit ucs.net/beat-peak-sign. 

United welcomes the opportunity to help members find ways to use less energy. For additional information on United’s Bring Your Own Thermostat Program and Beat the Peak, or to learn about any of our other energy savings programs, please contact a United office today.