Snowbird Preparation: how to keep your Off-Peak heating rate

Posted by Nathan Karels on November 9, 2021

As the days get colder, some of us go south for the winter. We start planning and winterize our homes. Generally, we turn the heat down, shut off the water supply and shut off our water heater. But how do we winterize our homes if we have Energy Saving Programs (Off-Peak) installed? 

Many of us have electric heat in our homes on an Energy Savings Program. It is 100 percent efficient and, coupled with the lower rate, is a great way to heat our homes. But we can run into trouble if we do not winterize the home correctly.

Turning off the circuit breaker to the well and water heater is where the problem can arise. WH’s Energy Savings meter needs 240 volts to operate. Often, the Energy Savings meter shares a circuit with a well or water heater. Make sure the circuit breaker that is tied to the Energy Savings meter remains in operation.

One way to ensure your meter is still working is to shut off what you normally do and go outside and look at your Energy Savings meter. If it is digital, you should still see a reading on the screen. If your meter is an older mechanical style, you should see a flashing light on the bottom of the meter.

We should also check the control switch mounted above the meter to ensure an LED light is illuminated. It may be red, green or yellow. If there are lights and a reading, then it was done correctly. By doing these simple things before we head south, we will have peace of mind knowing that our meter is powered up and recording our heat correctly while we are soaking in the sun. If you have questions, contact WH at (763) 477-3000.