CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Alliant Energy said it is taking proactive steps Tuesday to reduce energy costs for customers during the current heat wave because prices can increase during intensely hot summer days.
In order to reduce energy use, Alliant is activating a voluntary Appliance Cycling program for Tuesday and Wednesday. They will continue to monitor conditions to determine if it is needed throughout the rest of the week, the company said in a statement released Tuesday.
“We will remotely control central air conditioners for participating customers in the north, central and southern zones in Iowa,” the statement said. “Participants will see their central air conditioner cycled in 15-minute intervals from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. The blower fan will continue to circulate the cooler air already in the home.”
The Appliance Cycling program reduces peak energy use on the overall energy grid, which lowers costs for customers, Alliant Energy said. The company last activated the program July 19, 2019.
The program is voluntary for Alliant Energy’s Iowa residential customers. The company can sync air conditioners across the state in order to reduce the number running at any one time, in this way reducing the amount of energy generated or purchased on peak days.
The energy cost or fuel cost line item on bills reflects the cost of generating and purchasing energy for customers, which changes every month based on actual costs.
Residential customers who have enrolled their central air conditioning unit in the program get an $8 credit per month on their bill from June through September even if it doesn’t get warm enough to cycle appliances.
