Helping members manage summer energy costs, by Eric Eriksen
Summer in the San Luis Valley brings longer days, more irrigation and more cooling needs. At San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, we understand that every dollar matters. As your local, not-for-profit cooperative, our focus is on providing reliable service while helping members find practical ways to manage energy use and monthly costs.
At SLVREC, we offer several programs and resources that can help members take more control of their energy use, from rate options and budget tools to rebates and financing for efficiency upgrades. Whether you are looking to spread costs more evenly across the year, shift usage to lower-cost hours or make long-term improvements to your home or business, we want you to know what is available.
Time-of-Day rates
SLVREC offers residential Time-of-Day rate options that reward members who can shift more of their electricity use outside of peak hours. Currently, on-peak residential energy use is billed from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day, while off-peak use is billed overnight and through most daytime hours. Simple changes like delaying laundry, dishwashing, electric vehicle charging or other large loads can help lower energy bills and ease demand on the system.
Budget billing
If your monthly bills rise and fall sharply, SLVREC’s budget billing option may help. Budget billing can smooth out monthly payments so members can better plan for household expenses instead of absorbing the full impact of seasonal swings all at once. Combined with Auto Bill Pay and SmartHub account access, it can make monthly billing more predictable and easier to manage.
Weatherization and energy savings
Members who want to improve comfort and efficiency should also look at SLVREC’s weatherization and energy savings resources and the Electrify and Save On-Bill Repayment Program. Eligible members can finance qualifying upgrades such as insulation, windows, doors, water heaters, HVAC systems and other energy-saving improvements with no money down, no credit check and repayment added to their monthly utility bill over time. Ask a local contractor if they’ve attended one of SLVREC’s heat pump training classes.
Rebate program
SLVREC’s Energy Efficiency Credit Rebate Program helps members save on qualifying upgrades and equipment. Rebates are available for a variety of items, including water heaters, premium efficiency motors and variable speed drives, ENERGY STAR refrigerators and freezers, clothes dryers, electric stoves, commercial LED lighting, heat pump installations and split-system ENERGY STAR air conditioners. These incentives can reduce upfront costs while supporting long-term savings.
You have the power
Managing summer bills often comes down to a series of small, steady choices.
Start with the basics: set your thermostat as high as is comfortably practical during warmer months, use ceiling fans only in occupied rooms, replace dirty filters, seal obvious air leaks and avoid running several major appliances at the same time during peak hours if you are on a Time-of-Day rate. Those simple habits can make a meaningful difference over the course of the summer.
Members can find more information about rates, rebates, Budget Billing, SmartHub, weatherization resources and Electrify and Save at slvrec.com or by contacting our office directly.
As a cooperative, we are here to serve our members, not outside shareholders. That means we are always looking for responsible ways to deliver reliable power, strengthen our communities and help members use energy wisely. When our members succeed, the Valley succeeds.
If you have questions about the options available to you, contact SLVREC at 719-852-3538 or 800-332-7634, email power@slvrec.com, or visit slvrec.com. We are proud to serve the Valley and proud to work alongside our members every season of the year.