Potential Curtailment Measures

Ideas to Create Awareness for a Critical Situation

(Adapted from the Regional Curtailment Plan for Electric Energy, Appendix C)

These measures would depend on many factors such as geographic area, time of year, local economies, public health considerations, etc., and are for 'illustration only'. Several different combinations of measures may be necessary to obtain the right mix should curtailment goals become an actuality. Measures implemented should take into account conservation and other efforts that consumers may have already implemented.

To Achieve Approximately a 5% Curtailment:

  • Residential:
    • Reduce space heat to 65° F;
    • Utilize night set-backs (10 degrees recommended);
    • Increase air conditioning to 80° F if in cooling season;
    • Reduce lighting 20%, either by turning of 1/5 of lights regularly on or reducing total light wattage by 1/5 (replace all 75-Watt with 60-Watt, for example).
  • Commercial:
    • Reduce space heat to 65° F;
    • Utilize temperature set-backs during times the business is closed;
    • Increase air conditioning to 80° F if in cooling season;
    • Reduce lighting 20%, either by turning of every 5th light regularly or reducing total light wattage by 1/5.
  • Industrial:
    • Direct Service Industries (DSIs) & non-DSIs cut 5% of load as decided internally - processes, shift scheduling, lower power settings on machinery, etc.
  • Irrigation:
    • If during irrigation season, shut off pumps 1 hour of pumping time each day (if pumping 24 hours a day), or trade-in for 5% lower wattage pumps.

To Achieve Approximately a 10% Curtailment:

  • Residential:
    • All steps of the previous level;
    • Increase air conditioning to 85° F if in cooling season;
    • Additional 5% lighting reduction (total 25% - replace 60-Watt with 45-Watt);
    • Set water heaters at 130° F (if higher)
    • Reduce all other electricity use 5% (with some of the following measures);
    • shut down hot tubs, home spas, swimming pool heaters,
    • restrict clothes dryer use,
    • turn up refrigerator temperature to 38-40° F
    • limit use of automatic timers and clocks,
    • reduce water bed heater temperatures,
    • reduce electric blanket settings,
    • cook with microwave versus electric resistance ovens.
  • Commercial:
    • All steps of the previous level;
    • Increase air conditioning to 85° F if in cooling season;
    • Additional 5% lighting reduction (total 25% reduction, every 4th light off);
    • Eliminate advertising, reduce parking lot lights (not necessarily security lights);
    • Set water heaters at 130° F (if higher)
    • Reduce all other electricity use 5%, depending on type of commercial establishment;
    • Eliminate clothes dryers use,
    • Turn up refrigerator/freezer temperatures,
    • Limit use of automatic timers and clocks, etc.
  • Government/Utility:
    • Turn off 1/3 outdoor street lights and parking lot lighting;
    • Reduce 10% of own building/facility electricity consumption however determined by facility management.
  • Industrial:
    • DSIs and non-DSIs cut 10% of load as decided internally – processes, work shifts, machinery, etc.
  • Irrigation:
    • If during irrigation season, shut off pumps 2-1/2 hours of pumping time each day (if pumping 24 hours), or trade-in for 10% lower wattage pumps.

To Achieve Approximately a 15+% Curtailment:

  • Residential:
    • All steps of previous level;
    • Reduce space heat to 62° F if all household members are healthy;
    • Additional 5% lighting reduction (total 30%; 1/3 of all lights removed and no wattage greater than 40-W); all outside lighting off;
    • Turn Down water heater to 120° F (if higher);
    • Reduce all other electricity use additional 15% (for a total of 15%);
    • Eliminate clothes dryer use,
    • Turn up refrigerator temperature,
    • Limit use of automatic timers and clocks,
    • Turn off spas, hot tubs, swimming pool heaters, clocks, etc.
  • Commercial:
    • All steps of previous level;
    • Additional 5% lighting reduction (total 30%; 1/3 of all lights removed, and all security lighting off);
    • Eliminate advertising, parking lot lights;
    • Turn Down water heater to 120° F (if higher);
    • Reduce all other electricity use additional 15% (for a total of 15%) - reduce pump and compressor use, raise freezer temperatures, limit use of automatic timers and clocks, etc.
  • Government/Utility:
    • Turn off all outdoor street and parking lot lighting;
    • All non-DSI Federal loads cut 15% (military, Bureau of Reclamation, BIA);
    • Reduce building/facility electricity consumption a total of 15%.
  • Industrial:
    • DSIs and non-DSIs cut 15% of load as decided internally - processes, work shifts, machinery power, etc.
  • Irrigation:
    • If during irrigation season, shut off pumps 5 hours of pumping time each day (if pumping 24 hours each day), or trade-in for 15% lower wattage pumps.