Boulder, Colo

Boulder, Colo., Utility Firm Has Plan to Conserve Energy

Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. -- June 5

Xcel Energy, the utility company for Boulder, is asking people to give it remote control of their air conditioners in order to conserve energy.

The company is offering its Boulder customers with central air conditioning $25 off their October energy bills in exchange for putting a remote-controlled on-off switch on their air coolers.

Summertime electricity use soars between June and August each year as climbing temperatures spur people to crank on the air conditioners.

Under Xcel's "Saver's Switch" program, the company proposes putting air-conditioner compressors on a 15-minute on-off cycle on peak use days to reduce energy consumption and stress on the local electricity distribution grid.

"It's an insurance policy for us," said Steve Roalstad, an Xcel spokesman.

The increased prevalence of central air conditioners is the primary reason electricity consumption per household in Colorado rose 17 percent over the past decade, Roalstad said.

The way the company envisions using the remote-control switches, Xcel could trim energy use by 15 megawatts without making customers' homes hotter, Roalstad said.

The switching program would probably only be used on days where temperatures near 100 degrees, he said.

Air-conditioners are able to blow cold air while the compressor is off for 15 minutes, he said.

"The customer won't know when their particular unit is cycling on and off," he said.

About 10,000 households on Xcel's system outside Boulder have already signed on to the program.

Boulder and Lafayette customers are currently the only ones eligible to sign up for the "Saver's Switch" program in Boulder County. Xcel began offing the switch in Lafayette last year.

Customers interested in signing up for the "Saver's Switch" program should call (800) 824-1688.

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