Adding CO2 to the atmosphere is not the only issue at hand. It is only one reason why we need to conserve energy. The world’s population is increasing as time goes on, along with new gadgets being invented, adding to the strain we are placing on our transmission system.

Energy Conservation is here to stay

The best way to reduce the cost of energy is to conserve it. This would prevent the need for building additional power plants and reduce the amount of energy needing to be produced by existing power plants in operation and, at the same time, reducing your electric bill. Some things we all can do to conserve energy are: Use less of it; replace inefficient appliances with Energy Star appliances, install CFL light bulbs, have an energy audit done, etc; to see where there may be some inefficient areas of your home wasting energy. North Itasca Electric Cooperative can help with improving your home’s efficiencies.

Load control strategies

For those of you that are on load control programs, the programs will still be controlled as specified in our program guide book. But you will be experiencing increased amounts of control periods from Great River Energy in the future. Those on the Northome substation will not be seeing much change from past years.

During the summer months, you will be hearing conservation alerts on the radio asking you to conserve energy. These alerts are very important because energy costs are at much higher prices than what North Itasca Electric is selling it to members for. So please, when it is extremely hot outside and the humidity is high, we ask that you will do all you can to cut back on your power usage. It will keep your power cost down in the future.

Load Management programs

North Itasca Electric offers off-peak programs that will save you money on your heating, cooling and water heating bills. When the energy cost is low at night and the energy supply is high, you can store heat and hot water for the following day. Storage heating is considered energy savings while all other programs are becoming load building.

The future of energy is changing! We all need to do our part in keeping the cost of energy at the lowest price possible.