What is a Peak Alert?

A Peak Alert is triggered when our community's peak electric demand is in danger of exceeding the historical peak, which was set in August 2024. The City may notify the public through the following means:

• Text alerts
• Social media news
• Local newspapers or radio broadcasts

When you list your phone number on your City of Ames Electric Utility sign-up form, you are automatically enrolled to receive text alerts. If you wish to update or add a phone number, call City of Ames Customer Service at 515-382-7290. 

What should I do when I receive a Peak Alert?

We ask that all customers limit their electric consumption during these times, as they are able. You can do this by avoiding use of washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, stoves and ovens. Even if you have a gas stove or oven, cooking indoors during these periods heats up your home and makes your air conditioner work harder. Peak Alerts are good times for cold cuts, warming up leftovers, or grilling outdoors!

Bumping up your thermostat setpoint by 3-5 degrees during these periods will also make a big difference in your electric consumption. You can close blinds and curtains to avoid heat gain from the sun and close doors and air registers to rooms of your home that are not in use.

The time periods we ask for these reductions are limited - usually four to six hour periods just a few times a year. Responding to peak alerts in these few hours per year makes a BIG difference in keeping your bills low year-round!

Why are Peak Alerts needed?

Customers' responses to Peak Alerts will help keep rates low by avoiding new peak demands. New peak demands will require the utility to invest in new generation capacity, which is a high-cost and long-term endeavor. Hitting a new summer peak means more capacity is needed to cover just a few days a year, while the rest of the year that capacity would be unused. These few days per year that we call on the community to reduce their electric consumption for a few hours in the afternoon is one of the most effective ways that the community can take control over the cost of their electric bills by avoiding costly new investments.

In addition, the greater the demand for electricity, the greater the impact on our natural resources and our environment. Keeping the system peak down is not only economically desirable, but environmentally prudent.

Did You Know?

• You can perform your own home energy audit and improve your home’s efficiency. Click here for a self energy audit packet.
• Running your air conditioner in the morning to clear humidity can make you more comfortable and may save you energy later in the day.
• All air conditioners have a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). A high SEER means it's more efficient. Heat pumps, and particularly geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient way to cool your home, and the same system can heat your home in the winter!
• Windows and doors account for about 15% of home air leakage. Holes into the attic and the top of the foundation are the greatest sources.
• You can save 1-2% on your energy bills by using foam gaskets on all exterior outlets and switches.
• Peeking into your oven when you're cooking can lower the temperature as much as 25 degrees each time you open the door.

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