Policy change will help customers save money on utility bills
The New Bern Board of Aldermen voted November 12 to amend the City’s Customer Service Policy to provide a reduced residential deposit as part of the load management program.
Laura Johnson interviewed Colleen Roberts to learn more about the City’s Load Management Rewards Program.
Listen to the radio interview aired on New Bern News Talk Radio WNOS 97.1FM and 1450AM. You can also hear the interview online on NBN’s Libsyn page:
New Bern CONNECTS features a series of programs designed to benefit city utility customers. The Load Management Rewards program offers customers an opportunity to save money by participating in load management, along with a reduced deposit for those who qualify. Currently, utility deposits are calculated as the two highest bills from the last 24 months added together. Load Management Rewards participants who qualify could see a reduced deposit amount equal to twice their average annual utility bill.
Load management helps control utility rates by limiting peak demand for electricity. Load control devices on customers’ appliances, such as heat pumps and hot water heaters, cycle off for 7 ½ minutes each half hour during peak demand. During this short power interruption, water heaters are able to keep water hot. Compressors inside your heat pump (in cooling mode) and central air conditioner are also cycled off for 7 ½ minutes each half hour during load management. However, internal fans remain on allowing cooled air to circulate.
Load management is not used every day, but is used on hot summer afternoons, typically between 1 and 6 p.m., and on cold winter mornings between 7 and 9 a.m. Most customers will notice minimal changes in the heating and cooling of their homes while participating in load management.
City utility customers who participate in the New Bern CONNECTS Load Management Rewards program can receive up to $110 or more per year after enrolling in the program. Monthly credits of $5-$10 are applied to homes equipped with certain appliances such as water heaters, heat pumps, and heat strips. Credits are applied each month and depend on the qualifying appliances inside your home or business and the time of year.
Customers who want to participate in Load Management Rewards may call the Utility Business Office at 252-639-2750, visit the office at 606 Ft. Totten Drive, or log on to our website, www.NewBern-NC.org and click on “Resident” on the top left side of the page. New Bern CONNECTS Load Management Rewards begins January 1, 2015.
Submitted by: Colleen Roberts, Public Information Officer for the City of New Bern