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MAY 2017

PEAK LOAD MANAGEMENT IN THIS ISSUE:

S
Summer Shutdowns
School will end next month and PLM
will begin! Do you know why it’s so
important for you to know the
shutdown protocols?
E
Energy Awards
We’re proud of the 64 elementary
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has instituted a late afternoon and 32 secondary schools that saved
curtailment of air conditioning operations in schools each summer from 4:00- energy during December-February.
R
5:00 p.m. We call this PLM, or Peak Load Management. But why would we do
this? The answer is simple: Because the energy we use during peak hours in the Paper Recycling
summer affects MCPS’ electricity costs year round! It’s almost time for our annual paper

The chart below shows the increase in kilowatt hour pricing during the peak recycling contest, GOT PAPER?
hours of 3:00-5:00 p.m. on a typical hot August afternoon. On this particular Will your school win a recycling
award? It’s easier than you think!
day, the electric demand approached, and briefly exceeded, the capacity of the
PJM (Pennsylvania-Jersey-Maryland) power grid to generate and transmit T
electricity, resulting in a voltage reduction, or brown-out, to protect the Trophy Moments
system. At such times, the real-time price of electricity skyrockets, rising from Last month, our judges panel
the normal $0.10/kWh up to $0.75/kWh. This is a clear signal to customers to reviewed each LEAD BY EXAMPLE
entry and awarded two first place
shut down all non-essential uses of
power. Because these peak and two second place prizes.
Find out which schools are setting
demand periods drive our price of
good leadership examples
electricity for all 12 months of the
in their schools.
year, conserving energy is vitally
important. Two MCPS schools have received
Green Ribbon Schools award from
From June 21 through August 22,
the U.S. Department of Education
please find ways to minimize the
and eight of our schools have
number of lights and equipment
been certified/recertified as
that remain on starting at 3:00 p.m.
MAEOE Green Schools!
The shutdown process for chillers
should begin at 3:45 p.m. Chillers
Thanks for remembering to
should be off from 4:00-5:00 p.m. If
complete and submit your
the chiller is still on at 4:00 p.m.,
Memorial Day Weekend
please call the EMS Hotline at PJM REAL-TIME PRICES shutdown checklist!
301-252-3533. AVERAGE PRICES FOR MCPS