Load Management

Irwin EMC participates in active load management during the summer months, turning power off to our larger irrigation accounts for a few hours to control the electric load.

Control takes place during our time of highest electricity use, typically 3-7 p.m.  From June through August, we will need to manage load, on average, six to 10 days a season.  Irrigation users will receive notice of load management through text message. In 2020, we managed load only 5 days.  Our hope is to avoid load management on the weekends or 2 days in a row, however, weather patterns and load required us to do both this past year.

By using a radio-controlled switch, we are able to cut power to our highest electricity users during the times of peak demand.  Load management is an indispensable tool to avoid blackouts and high costs incurred when demand spikes or supply unexpectedly shuts down.  It improves power reliability tremendously.

Smaller utilities like Irwin EMC that buy power instead of generating our own can benefit greatly from a load management system.  By managing peak demand from our members, our co-op will be able to reduce wholesale power purchases to save money and resources.

Of course, large irrigation accounts have the option to opt out of load management.  The rates comparing a load management rate versus a non-load management rate are listed below with the annual service charge. If an irrigation user decides to opt out of load management, the higher rate will stand for the entire billing cycle and we must have a 24-hour notice before the change is effective.