Frequently Asked Questions
Demand for electricity in our area is rapidly rising. During the “peak demand” times of summer, Energy Wise Rewards works to reduce electricity usage throughout the region, averting power outages. This reduces the need to build costly, new electrical infrastructure that can drive up rates, and reduces the amount of fossil fuel bought and burned to generate power to satisfy demand.
Reducing the use of fossil fuels reduces greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing electricity demand during a conservation period, Energy Wise Rewards also reduces emissions by averting the need for production of additional electricity. When load is highest and supplies are strained, the least efficient power plants must be brought into operation to meet demand or outages become likely. Lower efficiency electricity production also generally equates with higher emissions. The Energy Wise Rewards approach reduces the urgency in building additional power lines and power stations, thereby preserving our natural environment.
Once the technician is onsite, he or she may determine that your air conditioning system either (a) has a problem that prevents installation without repairs being done first, or (b) is not compatible with the equipment being installed. Should this happen, the technician will inform you of the findings and your options.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has studied the energy saving benefits of programmable thermostats. According to DOE, depending on usage patterns and how effectively you program the thermostat, it is possible to save as much as 10% on cooling and heating costs. This assumes the programmable thermostat is set back in the winter and set ahead in the summer during times the business is empty.
To qualify for Energy Wise Rewards, your facility must have either a central air conditioning unit or heat pump in good operating condition. Businesses, community organizations, government and municipal offices, retailers, schools, restaurants, and congregations are eligible to participate, even if the organization does not receive an electric bill directly from Delmarva Power.
The following equipment do not qualify for Energy Wise Rewards and are therefore unable to receive an energy saving device:
If you have any questions about whether or not your facility qualifies, please contact us prior to enrollment at 1-866-353-5798.
You will receive a notice the day before via your selected notification method in My Account — telephone, e-mail or text message. We will issue a news release prior to the event.
Check your programmable thermostat. When a conservation period occurs, the display will read “Event in Progress” at the top of the screen and the LED located in the center of the control arrows will maintain a steady red light for the duration of the period.
If you have an outdoor switch, you will need to go outside to inspect the device. A red LED will appear in the window of the outdoor switch throughout the conservation period.
When a Peak Savings Day is called, your device will receive a radio signal that will put your cooling unit’s compressor into a “conservation mode”. For example, if you elect 50% cycling, your compressor will operate half the time it did during the prior hour. The fan will continue to run, circulating already-cooled air throughout your home.
No. Participation is totally voluntary and you do not pay to participate.
When you enroll, we’ll install your choice of an Energy Wise Rewards web-programmable thermostat or an outdoor switch near your central air conditioning unit or heat pump, in each facility. On selected Peak Savings Days from June through October, we’ll automatically cycle off and on participating central air conditioners and heat pumps for short periods to help balance the region’s demand for electricity. These events are known as conservation periods. In turn, you will receive an Installation Credit and Energy Wise Rewards Bill Credits for your participation.
Yes. Energy Wise Rewards has been designed to meet your changing needs. You will need to contact the Program Call Center at 1-866-353-5799 to request and schedule the change of devices.
In order to receive all available credits in a calendar year, your device must be installed prior to your June bill. Although Delmarva Power cannot guarantee when your installation will occur, if you enroll and schedule your appointment prior to March 30, the device is likely to be installed prior to your June bill (even if you receive your bill early in June).
Energy Wise Rewards is part of EmPOWER MD which strives to create a more sustainable and energy-efficient future for Maryland by promoting responsible energy use and conservation.
The number of conservation periods depends on many factors, including weather, peak electricity demand, and wholesale energy costs. Energy Wise Rewards is only activated during times of high electricity demand, emergency conditions, or system testing. As such, there may be as few as one or two Peak Savings Days or as many as a dozen. In a typical year, one can expect five or less events.
Conservation periods typically occur on select summer weekday afternoons, called Peak Savings Days, and can last anywhere from three to six hours. If PJM requires an event to be called for reliability reasons (a Priority Peak Day), it will last until the situation is resolved; therefore, we cannot state how long an event of this type may last.
Depending on the level of participation you choose, you may or may not notice that your cooling unit is even cycling during a Peak Savings Day event. The temperature in a typical home may rise 1-3 degrees (at the 50% level), 2-4 degrees (75% level), or 4-7 degrees (100% level). Variables such as home insulation, shaded windows, ceiling fans, and the amount of home foot traffic are some of the things that can also affect the temperature.
Yes. This could occur, and in that event you would be required to participate per the Program Rules and the Customer Agreement. Essentially, Energy Wise Rewards program participants cannot opt out of Priority Peak Day conservation periods.
All customers are permitted to opt out of up to two non-Priority Peak Days per season. Participants who wish to override a conservation period will need to call our Energy Wise Rewards Service Call Center at 1-866-353-5799. Remember, the automatic cycling of your Energy Wise Rewards device will lower your A/C energy use and help you earn $1.25 per kWh you save.
Our customers use more electricity during the summer season than at other times of the year. As the area grows and more new and existing customers install central air conditioners, demand for electricity reaches higher and higher peaks in the summer, putting a strain on the power system. Participating in Energy Wise Rewards is a way for all of us to avoid paying for the construction of new power plants built primarily to operate only during times of very high electricity demand for a handful of hours per year.
Have questions about the devices, your eligibility, or how to apply? Contact us and we’ll help get you started today.