DURANGO, Colo. – La Plata Electric Association customers participating in the WattWatcher® “Time-of-Use” (TOU) program are reminded that seasonal rates and times for the winter take effect Sept. 15. The TOU program is designed to help conserve energy and save customers money.

From Sept. 15 through midnight May 14, 2008, the “winter” off-peak hours are daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., as well as all day Thanksgiving and Christmas.

LPEA is also conducting a survey of all member/customers signed up for the WattWatcher® program to help determine the effectiveness of these “seasonal” hours, an adjustment that was made Jan. 1, 2007. More than 4,000 LPEA member/customers in La Plata and Archuleta Counties are currently participating in the program, and all will receive the written survey via the mail.

“The revised seasonal time-of-use program reflects when true power costs are more expensive and when they are not. The old program maintained the same times throughout the year, but there are now seasonal factors that really do change the times when generation is stretched to it limit,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “The survey is intended to see if it truly has been an improvement for our member/customers. We encourage all WattWatcher® customers to complete the written survey and return it to us, or visit the LPEA web site, www.lpea.coop.”

In 2006, the LPEA board of directors approved the adjustment to the Time-of-Use rates, taking into consideration seasonal “peak” electrical use periods. LPEA’s wholesale power supplier, Tri-State Generation & Transmission, charges LPEA less for purchasing electricity in off-peak hours. LPEA then passes that savings on to customers who have

signed up for the WattWatcher® program. The electricity used during the off-peak period is, therefore, billed at a considerably lower rate than the regular residential rate.

“Tri-State has critical power generation periods when consumption peaks,” explained Munro. “If there is heavy demand and Tri-State’s generation plants can’t produce enough electricity to meet the demand, they must purchase it on the open market, which is considerably more expensive. With customers in the system shifting some of the demand off these critical periods, the efficiency of the entire electrical system is improved.”

TOU customers have been urged to use those appliances that draw the most power – such the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer or self-cleaning oven – during the off-peak hours to take full advantage of the program. Installing timers on water heaters or electric thermal storage (ETS) units helps ensure maximum savings. According to LPEA records, TOU customers save between 5 percent and 50 percent over the standard rates.

For further information, TOU customers or those interested in signing up for the cost-cutting program are encouraged to call 970.247.5786.

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Off-peak, time-of-use periods

Winter (September 15^th – May 14^th)

Daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. & 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

All Day Thanksgiving and Christmas

Summer (May 15^th – September 14^th)

Monday – Friday 10 p.m. to 10 a.m.

All Day Saturday and Sunday