Save Energy & Money

As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, East River doesn’t exist to make money from selling electricity. We exist to provide power at the lowest possible rate and we’re committed to helping our members conserve energy and keep their money where it belongs—in their pockets. We achieve that goal through our load management program, energy efficiency incentives and more.

Load Management Program

Load management is a means of controlling the amount of electricity being used during times of peak demand in our service territory. Peak demand is the greatest amount of electricity used at one time by an electric system, normally when a large number of customers are using appliances at the same time. These peaks determine how much we must pay for power. When periods of peak demand occur, load management reduces the demand and lowers the cost to all members.

Our load management program has saved our members more than $260 million in avoided wholesale power costs since it launched in 1985. Over 75,500 electric loads in homes, farms and businesses of member consumers throughout eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota currently participate in the program. These loads include electric water heaters, air conditioners, irrigation systems and other big energy users.

Special switches are attached to the loads when a member enters into the program. Our dispatch center sends a radio signal to the switching units and shuts off power to the connected units for short periods during our peak demand. Typically, this happens on hot summer and cold winter days. We cycle off appliances in such a way that reduces the chance of inconveniencing the participating members.