Efficiency in the production and distribution of power is essential to the prosperity of a nation.
Unfortunately, guaranteeing this efficiency is a challenging exercise for any company or government. Consequently, peak and off-peak hours will always exist.
Charging negligible prices during off-peak hours lessens the burden that electricity suppliers experience during peak hours.
Fortunately, electricity companies have packages for nights and weekends. Here are 5 reasons free nights and weekends electricity is a good thing.
1. Stabilizing Prices
Generating electricity is an expensive endeavor yet storing it is impossible. Therefore, most of the power produced during the off-peak hour period goes to waste.
Consequently, power companies experience minimal returns from their investment at such times. Charging highly for electricity helps them recover from depressed earnings.
Avoiding these high charges is possible if people take up free nights and weekends. Doing so reduces the waste that power generation companies experience during off-peak hours.
2. Avoiding Outages
Imagine downloading something on your PC only for a power outage to occur when the download is almost complete. You could be watching something on TV as well or doing your laundry.
Everything stops when a power outage hits your area. Avoiding these inconveniences is an excellent idea.
Reducing the strain that people place on electricity mains during peak hours helps you do that. Taking advantage of free nights and weekends encourages a balance between peak and off-peak hours leading to a reduced number of outages.
3. Saving Costs on Energy
The average American household consumes more than 10,766 kWh of power annually. A typical family in Louisiana and Hawaii uses up 14,881 kWh and 6,061 kWh each year respectively.
Interestingly, electricity consumption in Texas is 25% higher than the national average is. In Dallas, Texas, this consumption translates to a monthly electric bill of about $139.29 for a 915 square foot apartment.
Free nights and weekends would reduce this cost significantly. Some analysts even claim that you would save as much as 30% off your monthly electric bill.
Related post: How energy efficient is the UK?
4. Ideal for Odd Hours
More than four million Americans work evening shifts according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another three million people work in graveyard shifts, i.e., from midnight to the early hours of the morning.
These people need an electricity consumption plan that works for them. Free nights and weekends incentivises them so that they can work all night. Remember, some of these workers, e.g., health workers and security officers provide essential services.
Let them keep their lights on and power their devices all night without worrying about expensive utility bills.
5. Environmental Responsibility
More than 63% of the electricity the US generates comes from fossil fuels.
These fuels include natural gas, petroleum, and coal. Twenty percent of it comes from nuclear energy while only 17% of it comes from renewable sources.
Fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the fossils, or remains, of dead animals and plants that were buried under dirt and rock. Heat from inside the earth and pressure from dirt and rock changes these fossils into oil, natural gas and coal. Because it takes millions of years to make or “renew” more fossil fuels, we call them “nonrenewable fuels.” We are currently using the fuels that were made more than 65 million years ago. Once this fuel is gone, it is gone for good. Source.
Free nights and weekends electricity leads to a heightened level of efficiency in the use of these resources.
For example, there will be a reduction in the use of fossil fuels for electricity because none of it would be going to waste. This will help reduce each person’s carbon footprint. Moreover, most of these free programs incorporate the use of solar power.