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Both Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power offer a special Residential Demand Service Rate for customers. Residential customers who have elected to participate in this special rate and use a demand controller have saved 20-40% on their electric bills.

Q. What is Demand?

A. Demand is the rate at which electricity is used during a thirty minute period. As you turn on more lights, appliances and electric heating equipment, you are increasing your individual electric demand (Rate-of-Use).

Demand rates are offered to encourage customers to "level out" their rate of use. By controlling your demand, you are contributing to the efficiency of the electric system and saving both the consumer and the power company money. During the month, a Demand/Energy meter records the total Energy used, along with the highest 30 minute demand measured in kilowatts (kW), with one kilowatt equal to 1,000 watts. For example, if you have ten 100-watt light bulbs on at one time, the demand is 1,000 watts or 1 kilowatt (kW). If they remain on for one hour, the Energy used is one kilowatt-hour (kWh). After recording the 30-minute peak use demand, the meter reader resets the demand indicator on the meter to zero to start a new billing period.

Q. How Does The Demand Rate Work?

A.The total monthly bill is comprised of a customer charge, a charge for measured demand (kW), and a charge for Energy (kWh) consumed during a billing period. To realize maximum savings, you will want to keep your demand as low as possible.

Q. How Can I Benefit?

A. Customers on the Residential Demand Service Rate realize significant savings on their monthly electric bill by installing an Energy Sentry demand controller which manages their demand during peak hours. Your potential savings can easily be estimated on this special rate.

Q. What Is The Best Way To Control My Demand?

A. The best way to control your demand is through the use of automatic Demand Control devices. Demand Controllers monitor your home's demand and manage the simultaneous operation of Demand producing equipment.

Q. How Does A Demand Controller Work?

A. The Demand Controller is a device that controls your major electric appliances in order to limit the peak energy use in your home. The appliances that are managed include your electric heat, air conditioner, electric water heater, clothes dryer(heating element only) and hot tub (heating element only). The Demand Controller unit will monitor your electricity use and begin managing your major appliances on a prioritized basis as your demand reaches your preset kW limit. When your demand begins decreasing, the Controller will begin restoring power to each of your major appliances.

Q. Will The Demand Controller Shut Off My Lights, TV, Radio, Computer, And Kitchen Appliances?

A. No. The unit will not shut off common electrical equipment. It will monitor the total electrical usage in your home in order to determine the total demand used at a given time.

Q. Will the Power Company Shut Off My Electric Power?

A. No. The Demand Controller is the only device that can control your demand and energy usage. Remember, the unit is controlled by you. You can adjust it much like you would do to a thermostat or you can totally override the system easily.The Power Company does not control your usage.

Q. Do I Need To Be A Total Electric Customer?

A. No. The Demand Service Rate and the Demand Controller are designed for any residential customer with a high monthly energy usage.

Q. What Happens If You Move?

A. The Demand Controller can be easily moved to your new home. The system will make your house easier to sell with lower utility bills.

Q. How Can I Receive The Maximum Value From The Demand Controller Program?

A. The Residential Time of Use rates are designed to allow customers uncontrolled electrical usage during weekends, designated holidays, and nightly Off-Peak periods. The Demand Controller will automatically manage the customer's use of major appliances during the On-Peak periods. The customer will only be billed for the kW Demand recorded during the On-Peak periods and energy (kWh) consumed. There is no limit or charge for the Off-Peak kW Demand.

Q. What Are The Off-Peak and On-Peak Periods?

A. The off-peak and on-peak time periods are as follows:

Dominion Virginia Power

Summer Season (Weekdays): June 1 - September 30