As a member of Palmetto Electric Cooperative, there are many energy-saving programs available to you.

In an initiative known as Beat The Peak, Palmetto Electric and other South Carolina electric cooperatives are working hard to manage energy use during peak times. Peaks occur on the coldest winter mornings and hottest summer afternoons, when the demand for electricity, and the cost for it, is the highest. By keeping energy usage low during these peak times, the co-op can lower total power costs. Because electric cooperatives are not-for-profit companies, the savings are passed on to you, the co-op’s members. First, voluntarily sign up for Beat The Peak alerts to be notified by e-mail, text or voice message at times when you can help reduce electricity use by turning off lights, adjusting your thermostat and delaying the use of major appliances such as hot water heaters, washing machines and clothes dryers. More than 60,000 Beat The Peak participants throughout the state of South Carolina have helped save a projected $848,000 in wholesale power costs.

For years, Palmetto Electric Cooperative members have had access to H2O Select, an electric water heater program that saves members money each year in water heater rebates and incentives. By heating water when the demand for electricity is low and storing that thermal energy for later use, electric water heaters save members and the cooperative money.

In a similar way, the Smart Thermostat program helps members save by allowing Palmetto Electric to adjust your thermostat during peak energy periods and receiving Smart Rewards bill credits. If you need a smart thermostat, members can enroll to receive a free smart thermostat with free standard installation. If you already have an eligible smart thermostat installed, you can receive a $50 bill credit when you enroll. Smart thermostats are designed to ensure that your home is at a specific temperature when it needs to be and eliminates unnecessary HVAC use. They are Wi-Fi enabled and therefore, you can monitor and control them using a smart-phone, tablet or computer no matter where you are.