BGE: The ill should avoid extreme Peak Rewards
Baltimore Gas & Electric has sent everybody a letter apologizing for the screwups on Friday, July 22, when the grid required a mandatory activation of BGE's Peak Rewards program shutting down air-conditioners. The 70,000 households who had chosen "100 percent" cycling saw their AC shut off from 11:30 am until late that night in some cases. Few if any of the Peak Rewards participants expected their air to be off that long.
"We acknowledge that many of you experienced discomfort and frustration during this time, and some of you reported delays in getting your air conditioning service restored -- even after the transition back to normal operations was complete," BGE said in the letter. "We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may have caused."
The utility is reviewing Peak Rewards procedures with special focus on "program communications and call center delays." And it says, don't choose 75 percent cycling or 100 percent cycling if you have health problems. The 75-percent option, where during Peak Rewards events your AC runs only 25 percent of the normal time, "is not recommended for customers who have medical or health conditions, who are home for much of the day, or who otherwise found the temperature rise during the July 22 emergency event to be more than they can accommodate..."
Same basically goes for the 100 percent option, when your AC doesn't run at all, BGE said.
Comments
Anyone who can't comprehend what "100%" means should not participate in Peak Rewards either. Apparently there are plenty of people out there who fit that description.
Posted by: traveler | August 15, 2011 7:46 AM
We took the gamble and went with 100%. We knew what that entailed. Amazing how many claim they didn't know/understand the basics. Along with these cautions, any home that has very young children should think twice about their choices in Peak
Rewards.
Posted by: ruth | August 15, 2011 7:51 AM
Cool, I can easily get their telemarketer off the phone by telling them I am home all day and have severe respiratory issues.
Posted by: Gina | August 15, 2011 9:01 AM
File under 'Duh'.
I have been using the program since inception and it works great for our (well insulated) home. How did our grandparents live w/o AC? But it doesnt fall under 'Human Rights'.
Posted by: Mike | August 15, 2011 9:08 AM
I do have a question about the shutoffs... Over the past few years (i'm on the 100% cycle), when my AC was shut off, the fan would still circulate air, only my compressor was shut off. During the emergency a few weeks ago, my entire unit, including the fan was shut off. I was under the impression the fan would stay on? It would have made a big difference as my basement was cool and upstairs was hot. The air circulation would have helped.
Posted by: Mike | August 15, 2011 9:23 AM
Jay did you ever find out if Mayo Shattuck participates in the Peak Rewards program?
Posted by: O's FAN | August 15, 2011 9:33 AM
Some people always discuss the days when people lived without air conditioning. There was a time when people lived without indoor toilets or running water. I would not want to return to those days either.
Posted by: Willie | August 15, 2011 10:06 AM
@Mike - sounds like it might have been an issue with your unit. My fan was running the entire time even though the compressor wasn't running. Do you have the thermostat installed or just the switch?
Posted by: Michael | August 15, 2011 10:23 AM
Im a 100% participant and im fine with getting my $50/month credit for 2 thermostats. Yes, it was hot that day, and we work from home. So, we went to the library. No big deal.
Posted by: BH | August 15, 2011 10:54 AM
In all the marketing materials and "real life" stories the impact of being on the 100% level was described as a 2 degree inconvenience. As my house approached 90 deg F (after being off for 7 3/4 hrs) I went to the website and put in one of my two per-year overrides I'm allowed as a member of peak rewards. 15 minutes later my AC was back on. I didn't think I'd ever need an override but I did know I could use it if it came down to it. That said, BGE's materials (are) were misleading. A better compromise might be to establish some kind of maximum downtown for the 100% participants and figure out some fair way to cycle them on during a crisis.
Posted by: Paul | August 15, 2011 12:47 PM
I'm on the 50% program and knew what it meant.....what it did not mean was that my A/C would be completely shut off from 11am to 7pm (according to the bill, yet it didn't kick on until almost 7:45). We were home the whole time and not once did my compressor kick on....you can't tell me that is a 50% cycling...
Posted by: CaptGravy | August 15, 2011 2:15 PM