Flex Alert

FLEX ALERT:
http://flexalert.org/

Means I am going to get flexed over and DWP is going to put it in my butthole because of my power consumption this month.

wtf is a flex alert?? i checked the link, i take it it's supposed to be a time to reduce energy usage? never heard of it before though..

"A Flex Alert is an urgent call to Californians to immediately conserve electricity and to shift demand to off-peak hours (after 6 p.m.). The Flex Alert campaign is an educational and emergency alert program that informs consumers about how and when to conserve electricity. The public awareness campaign is critical to achieving high levels of conservation during heat waves and other challenging grid conditions such as wildfires or when major power plant or power lines are unavailable."

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So you're upset that the power company is suggesting that you use less electricity in an effort to conserve power n high demand days? Am I missing something ?

Its not just a suggestion. If you use more power than what they deem as necessary before 6pm you are charged a premium per kw/h.

Yep run at night.

Californicater said:

Its not just a suggestion. If you use more power than what they deem as necessary before 6pm you are charged a premium per kw/h.

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Do you have a link to more info about that. I am trying to verify this, but keep coming up empty. I was about to go back to running during the day now that I have an AC, but not if it costs significantly more.

Near as I can tell there are only penalties if you are in an energy conservation program through your local utility already. Are you sure you're not thinking of the baseline tiers or are you in a low income program through DWP? Or are you on Edison? (I am on Edison)

Does anyone have ANY info verifying what Californicator said?

[URL="http://www.fypower.org/ind/bpg/view.html?b=industrial&m=Demand_Response" said:

http://www.fypower.org/ind/bpg/view.html?b=industrial&m=demand_response[/URL]]
two types of demand response programs
reliability programs are triggered the day of an electrical event to prevent or offset an impending emergency. Some are voluntary programs, meaning that there is no penalty should a business be unable to reduce its load. Other reliability programs are binding and invoke penalties for non-action. However, these programs are designed so that penalties are wholly or partially offset by financial incentives, such as lower overall rates.

Pricing programs, on the other hand, are tied to the spot market price of electricity. On critical days, pricing programs invoke higher rates for electricity used during peak hours. These higher rates are only put into effect for a maximum of 12 days a year.

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You probably need to contact your power provider to see how these alerts effect your billing, just to be on the safe side.

you should run @ night anyways.... cheaper to cool that way....

Those are for businesses and residences that are already in a pricing program. Power companies offer a lot more of those programs to business than to residences. But one example is the poor people programs. You get lower rates but you're limited on your baseline, etc. Either way it won't affect my bill.

Thanks for the info. It's much appreciated. Shoot, whether it effects me or not, I never even knew about the flex alert program.

Also, you would be surprised at how much power some homes draw. My central air unit alone is 60 amps. SIXTY AMPS. That's six 1000 watt lights. (Actually it's slightly more since a 1k draws about 9 amps) We don't run the central AC.

Edit: it's only cheaper for me if I am enrolled in one of Edisons rate programs, which I am not. I prefer to run during the day because it gives me more time to work in there.