Beat the Peak Hits $40 Million Milestone

Greenwood, DE – Delaware Electric Cooperative’s (DEC) Beat the Peak program reached a major milestone in October – the program has now saved members more than $40 million. Beat the Peak is a voluntary program created by DEC to empower members to help keep energy rates as affordable as possible. 

Since its inception in 2008, the program has been saving members money by providing alerts when energy costs are at their highest and asking members to conserve electricity during those times. This partnership with members has resulted in savings of over $40 million since the program began, the equivalent of purchasing 7.7 million cups of coffee, 42,000 iPhones or 791 new cars. In 2023, members saved $1.9 million through their energy-saving efforts. Peak alerts are generally issued during the hot summer months.

"We are proud to be able to help keep energy rates affordable," says DEC Chief Operating Officer Dwayne Street. "The program is one of the reasons our electric rates have historically been some of the lowest in the region and this milestone would not be possible without the continued efforts of our members." 

As technology has evolved, so has the Beat the Peak program. The home plug-in alert indicators that launched with the program relied on technology that is now outdated and prohibitively expensive to operate. As of October 1, these indicators would no longer be activated during alerts.  

Members can recycle their indicators at a DSWA electronic recycling center or throw them away.

"We're thankful to our members for their efforts in helping us Beat the Peak," says DEC Vice President of Member Services Kevin Yingling. "We look forward to continuing this beneficial partnership with our members for years to come. Members can continue to receive peak alerts on DEC’s Beat the Peak app, which can be downloaded from the app store on mobile devices." 

In addition to the Co-op’s Beat the Peak app, members can receive alerts via email or through new automated phone calls that will launch in the spring of 2024. Alerts are also always posted on DEC’s social media pages. 

The Cooperative also currently offers Beat the Peak programs that provide billing credits to members who conserve energy during alert times by not charging their electric vehicles or by allowing the Co-op to automatically adjust Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats. Members can learn about how they benefit from these programs or can sign up to participate in programs at beatthepeak.coop. 

Delaware Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility powering more than 300,000 people in Kent and Sussex Counties. For more information, visit us on the web at www.delaware.coop or www.beatthepeak.coop or follow us on social media.