Sterling Municipal Light Department

Load Response Program Summary

What is it?

A program to reduce load when necessary for the Sterling Municipal Light Department (SMLD).

Who is sponsoring it?

The SMLD along with ArKion Systems.

What’s in it for my business?

1. You will receive an increase in your 10% early payment discount to 12%.  This will come as an additional credit on your next bill following the month the SMLD initiated a load shed as long as you maintained your load response threshold.
2. Reduced monthly demand by participating.
3. Helping the SMLD in this way allows us to control our costs, which you benefit from.

What do I need?

1. As much electric load that you can guarantee to interrupt when called upon to do so and maintain for a period of time.
2. An interval electric meter capable of providing pulse outputs.  The SMLD can tell you what you have and can upgrade it if necessary.
3. An Internet connection or LAN is helpful for communications.

When will I get called?

Load response customers need to be available whenever the demand for electricity is highest.  This usually occurs during the summer months of June, July and August and in December, January or February.  Typically, interruptions are called for primarily in the afternoon and last until late afternoon or early evening.  Upon SMLD notification, load response customers will be given two hours to respond to the load shedding.  At that time whatever the customer guaranteed to interrupt must be maintained to receive the credit.  There is a potential for load shedding to occur more than once in a month.

What can I do to reduce load?

Whatever load you guarantee to interrupt must be maintained.  Load conservation can be simply turning off unneeded equipment, stopping a process, reducing refrigeration or cooling for several hours.  If you have on-site generation, that can also be used to reduce or eliminate your load.

What happens if I do not respond to a call for interruption?

If you fail to respond, there will be no credit made until after you respond to the next called load response.  That could be the next day or in 6 months. If you fail to respond multiple times, you may be removed from the program.

Who do I call to find out more information?

Contact the SMLD Customer Service Department at 978-422-8267.

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Last modified: November 12, 2008