GREENWOOD, Del. Dec. 2025 – Delaware Electric Cooperative says its Beat the Peak program saved members $3.9 million this year, continuing what the utility describes as a long running effort to keep electricity costs down across Kent and Sussex Counties, according to a statement from the cooperative.
Beat the Peak alerts are issued during periods of heavy demand, most often on the hottest days of summer when power prices rise. When an alert goes out, members are asked to ease usage by raising thermostats a few degrees and delaying major appliances until demand drops. DEC sends those alerts through its mobile app, email, automated calls and social media.
The cooperative reports more than $46 million in cumulative savings since the program began in 2008. Similar efforts are now used by more than 100 not for profit utilities nationwide to lower overall energy costs for consumers. DEC has expanded the initiative with options that offer bill credits for members who delay charging electric vehicles or allow temporary adjustments to smart thermostats during peak periods. Cooperative officials say these programs help manage increasing electricity demand and support their goal of keeping rates stable. Information on Beat the Peak is available at www.beatthepeak.coop. Details about Delaware Electric Cooperative can be found at www.delaware.coop.
Submitted Photo: DEC’s Brittany Wagner, Manager of Operational Technology & System Controls, and Technology Support Analyst Rick Kinnikin monitor system demand as part of the Beat the Peak program, which helped members save millions in 2025.