• Demand = how quickly electricity is used
• Using 1 kW for 1 hour = 1 kWh
• Using that same power faster increases demand

Example:

• 1 kW over 60 minutes = 1 kWh
• 1 kW over 15 minutes = higher demand (4x rate)

Spreading energy use over time reduces strain on the grid

Demand is the usage rate of electricity by a member. As a member uses energy, they increase their kilo-watt hour(kWh) usage. Using one kW in an hour will result in 1 kWh, but the demand increases quicker the more electricity used in a small amount of time. If one kW is used within 15-minutes, the kWh will be increased to 4 kWh. By spreading the energy usage of an hour, this puts the least amount of strain on the grid during peak alerts. Spreading your energy use over the course of an hour helps reduce strain on the electric grid during peak demand times. This concept is called demand.