(July 27, 2017) Berlin residents near the William Street power plant might have noticed loud noises during the middle of the day last week.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said that’s because hot weather pushed the electric utility to generate additional power. During that time, one of the bay doors at the plant that is usually shut has been opened.
“We have been generating a lot these last couple of days,” Allen said. “The noise is a function of having those bay doors open, which we need to do because it is so hot and those engines need some additional air circulation as a result … which means more people can hear and it’s a little bit louder than usual.”
Allen said the town received a few noise complaints during those times.
“I would just ask folks to understand, there are time periods of short generation, typically from 2-6 [p.m.], in the afternoon,” she said. “We’re not generating at night and in the weekends. It’s just a temporary situation until we get through these hotter days and hotter months.”
Berlin’s electric utility uses Delmarva Power infrastructure to deliver electricity to homes in the town, but buys most of the power it distributes from an outside source. That system of buying most of its electricity and then generating it during peak periods has helped lower the average electric bills in town.
During the warmest and coldest days, the power plant generates additional power to offset high consumption, when purchased electricity is most expensive. That’s also called peak shaving.
The town releases “Tweak our Peak” alerts during those periods, asking residents to help conserve energy. Alerts are posted on social media and on the town website, as well as on the Berlin public access channel and through the Code RED emergency notification system.
“Essentially what we’re asking people to do is just adjust their thermostat, maybe make it a little bit warmer in the house, close your blinds, and don’t run your washing machine or major appliances [during peak hours]. Roughly from 2 o’clock to 6 o’clock is our summer peak,” Allen said. “We can’t control the weather, we can just adjust to it. Everybody is encouraging folks to use their resources wisely.”
Allen said the savings created by the Tweak Our Peak program are subtle, but added, “I think the impact could be more significant if folks weren’t paying attention to it and being careful.”
In February 2016, a missed peak caused electric rates to increase roughly $2 a month. Allen said there were some relatively minor mechanical problems with a few of the engines at the power plant, but otherwise there have not been issues recently.
Additional information about the energy savings program, as well as energy-saving tips, can be found on the electric utility page at www.berlinmd.gov.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said that’s because hot weather pushed the electric utility to generate additional power. During that time, one of the bay doors at the plant that is usually shut has been opened.
“We have been generating a lot these last couple of days,” Allen said. “The noise is a function of having those bay doors open, which we need to do because it is so hot and those engines need some additional air circulation as a result … which means more people can hear and it’s a little bit louder than usual.”
Allen said the town received a few noise complaints during those times.
“I would just ask folks to understand, there are time periods of short generation, typically from 2-6 [p.m.], in the afternoon,” she said. “We’re not generating at night and in the weekends. It’s just a temporary situation until we get through these hotter days and hotter months.”
Berlin’s electric utility uses Delmarva Power infrastructure to deliver electricity to homes in the town, but buys most of the power it distributes from an outside source. That system of buying most of its electricity and then generating it during peak periods has helped lower the average electric bills in town.
During the warmest and coldest days, the power plant generates additional power to offset high consumption, when purchased electricity is most expensive. That’s also called peak shaving.
The town releases “Tweak our Peak” alerts during those periods, asking residents to help conserve energy. Alerts are posted on social media and on the town website, as well as on the Berlin public access channel and through the Code RED emergency notification system.
“Essentially what we’re asking people to do is just adjust their thermostat, maybe make it a little bit warmer in the house, close your blinds, and don’t run your washing machine or major appliances [during peak hours]. Roughly from 2 o’clock to 6 o’clock is our summer peak,” Allen said. “We can’t control the weather, we can just adjust to it. Everybody is encouraging folks to use their resources wisely.”
Allen said the savings created by the Tweak Our Peak program are subtle, but added, “I think the impact could be more significant if folks weren’t paying attention to it and being careful.”
In February 2016, a missed peak caused electric rates to increase roughly $2 a month. Allen said there were some relatively minor mechanical problems with a few of the engines at the power plant, but otherwise there have not been issues recently.
Additional information about the energy savings program, as well as energy-saving tips, can be found on the electric utility page at www.berlinmd.gov.