Heat signals start of Berlin busy energy season

BERLIN -- Scorching summer temperatures signal the start of a busy season for employees of Berlin's Electric Department.

The heat that prompts the powering-on of air conditioners up and down the streets of Berlin also marks the start up of the town's four generators. By using the generators during the hottest part of the year -- when the town's consuming the most electricity -- Berlin is able to save about $600,000 a year.

"We get a credit at the end of the year," said Tim Lawrence, Berlin's electric utility director.

The process, he explained, is called peak shaving.

"Power travels in hills and valleys," he said, gesturing to a graph on a computer screen showing the ups and downs of power usage. "You're trying to shave the peak off."

To "shave the peak off," his staff runs the town's generators on extremely hot days to reduce some of the load -- to combat the increased number of people taking advantage of their air conditioners. The town has five generators, four of which function. Repairs to the damaged generator, Lawrence said, would cost more than they're worth. Instead, parts from that generator have been used to keep the other four, several of which date back to the 1960s, running.

Lawrence's department is notified of days when power usage is expected to be high by Booth & Associates, the electric consulting firm the town has used for the past few years.

"Their expertise has been invaluable," said Town Administrator Tony Carson, adding that the firm showed the electric department how to take better advantage of the generators.

Before Booth & Associates was hired, the department ran the generators on and off all year, costing the town a substantial amount in fuel. Now, the generators only run during the summer months.

As one would expect based on summer temperatures, peak days are typically between June and August. As a participant in the PJM program, the town is required to hit five peak days each year. Because it's impossible to tell which days will end up being peaks until the summer is through, the town turns on the generators on days when usage is expected to be high.

"We use historical data too," Lawrence said.

Last year, the town ran its generators 13 times and was successful in hitting five peak days.

cpolk@dmg.gannett.com

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Source: http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20120629/WCT01/206290306/1002/rss

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