When outdoor temperatures drop, electricity use naturally rises. Colder weather drives us indoors, where we rely more heavily on home heating systems, more lighting, and household appliances. Heating systems run longer and more frequently to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. Combine that with the fact that most people use electricity at the same times—typically in the mornings and early evenings—and the result is significant pressure on our electric grid.
CCEC works closely with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), our local generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative, to plan for these seasonal weather patterns and changes and ensure you have reliable power every day of the year. This partnership involves detailed resource and infrastructure planning to make certain electricity is available whenever you need it.
CCEC and NCEMC take proactive measures to strengthen reliability year-round. These include routine system maintenance, investments in grid modernization and comprehensive disaster response planning. These proactive steps are designed to ensure our portion of the grid remains resilient even under extreme conditions. Yet, maintaining a reliable electric system requires a collective effort—and every member plays an important role in lowering demand when the grid is under stress.
- You can help by taking simple actions during periods of high electricity use, especially on the coldest days:
- The Department of Energy recommends keeping your thermostat at 68°.
- Delay using large appliances during winter peak hours (6 a.m. – 9 a.m.). Run dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers during off-peak hours.
- Adjust your water heater to 120°.
- Unplug unnecessary devices. Power used for lighting and electronics adds up and accounts for a significant portion of home energy use.
Enroll in Beat the Peak
Join hundreds of other CCEC members who have signed up to receive Beat the Peak alerts. Participating members are notified by text message of upcoming peak usage periods. These periods occur most often between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the winter and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer. And they don’t happen every day. Peak periods will occur approximately 3 to 5 times per month, depending upon the temperatures. When you receive an alert, we ask that you reduce your usage during peak hours.
To enroll in Beat the Peak, click here or call 252.247.3107.
Understanding how winter weather impacts electricity demand is key to maintaining system reliability. By practicing simple energy conservation habits at home, you not only save money on your monthly bill—you also help strengthen the resilience of the grid that powers our community.
Together, through small actions and shared awareness, we protect our power grid, help control costs and ensure reliable electricity for our communities.