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Electric mobility seems to be everywhere these days, but does availability equal accessibility? Here at EWEB we’ve determined that the answer is ‘no’ and are working to bridge that gap through EV car shares, community grants and electric bike rebates.
Find Out MoreIn Eugene, we take pride in knowing we have one of the cleanest power portfolios in the nation. Roughly 90% of Eugene's power comes from carbon-free hydroelectric energy. And EWEB has a long history offering robust conversation programs. But we wanted to do more, so we launched Lead Green, a suite of programs for climate innovators looking to support renewable energy and take action on climate change. In the year since Lead Green was launched, we've accomplished a lot we can be proud of.
Find Out MoreLearn some of the many ways EWEB customers support local schools and help inspire kids to explore the wonders of watershed health and clean energy resources.
Find Out MoreOur skilled journeymen are experts in their field, with thousands of training hours and real-world experiences.
Find Out MoreNational Infrastructure Week (May 14-20) may be a politically charged quip on the national stage, but for EWEB, the urgency and importance of infrastructure is no joke.
Find Out MoreBy upgrading substations – key nodes in the electric grid – EWEB is investing today in a resilient electric grid for the future.
Find Out MoreSeventh graders in the Bethel School District put their handmade wind turbines to the test in a wind power challenge supported by EWEB grants last week.
Find Out MoreEWEB employs multiple methods of safeguarding drinking water, from the source to the tap.
Find Out MoreThe application period is now open for the Electric Mobility Community Grants. Mobility Grants of up to $25,000 will be awared to five nonprofits, schools and academic intitutions, government and other public agencies to cover costs associated with their electric mobility projects.
Find Out MoreEWEB's Greenpower subscribers voted to award this year's Greenpower Grant to Friends of Trees, a local nonprofit that brings trees to areas of Eugene and Springfield with low tree equity.
Find Out MoreFollow along as the Currin Substation, the first of 10 substations in 10 years, is rebuilt from the ground up as part of EWEB's Capital Improvement Plan for major infrastructure investments to rehabilitate, replace, and install new infrastructure.
Find Out MoreToday and every day, we celebrate and honor the hard work, innovation and dedication of electrical line workers.
Find Out MoreIt’s spring-- the time of year when birds are nesting in our trees. EWEB crews take special care to avoid disrupting birds when they’re trimming trees. But tree trimming is a necessary part of delivering safe and reliable power. We went out with a crew to find out how it's done.
Find Out MoreEWEB is excited to announce the eligible candidates for the 2023 Greenpower Grant! The winner of the Greenpower Grant will be voted on by Greenpower subscribers. Learn more about each origanization and their proposal before casting your vote.
Find Out MoreCrews are identifying and addressing equipment failures before wildfire season and doing so mitigates risk of fire ignition.
Find Out MoreNovember 24, 2020
On Thanksgiving day, you will likely fire up the oven and cooktop around mid-morning, and keep those kitchen appliances running strong until early afternoon. Have you ever wondered what happens to the electric grid when millions of households follow the same pattern?
Peak power occurs when the highest level of electricity is used in our region within a specific timeframe. There are seasonal peaks, daily peaks, and even hourly consumption peaks.
Peak power is a concern for utilities and consumers because peak electricity is more expensive, affecting power supply and infrastructure costs and ultimately, your utility bill. Supplying power during peak times can also increase greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change.
So should you be concerned about peak power on Thanksgiving?
The answer is an ambiguous yes and no.
On a typical November weekday, the Northwest experiences two peaks—in the morning when people wake up and start getting ready for work and school, and then again in the evening as people return home.
Unlike a typical morning when electricity usage peaks around 7 or 8 a.m., Thanksgiving ramps up at 9 a.m. as people begin cooking their turkeys and pies, peaking around midday when most of the cooking is wrapping up. Around early evening, once the feasting is concluded, energy loads wane and stay low for the rest of the day.
So the overall result is a shift from two daily peaks to one, slightly larger midday peak.
Just because the grid doesn't experience a massive increase in peak demand on Thanksgiving doesn't mean we don't need to be concerned about peak power. That's because peak power consumption can affect electricity costs and the climate.
EWEB, like most utilities, buys and sells power on a wholesale electricity market. During periods of peak demand, the cost of electricity goes up. Ultimately, higher power costs can impact the price of electricity charged to customers. Peak power can also increase infrastructure costs, as additional generation and distribution capacity are needed to supply our community's energy needs.
Although EWEB's energy portfolio is composed almost entirely of carbon-free power, we are part of a highly integrated regional energy grid that includes coal and natural gas. When the highest level of electricity is being used in the region, there is more of this carbon-intensive energy on the grid.
We should all be interested in managing peak power year-round. Reducing peak power demand allows for more efficient use of clean energy resources and can help limit future price increases.
In a nutshell, when you use electricity can be just an significant as how much you use.
Shifting your energy use to "off-peak" can be as simple as running the dishwasher, charging your electric car, or doing the laundry later at night (after 9 p.m.) or mid-day (between noon and 5 p.m).
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Mailing Address: 4200 Roosevelt Blvd., Eugene, OR 97402
Phone: 541-685-7000
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