Working together to lower demand

January 1, 2026

When outdoor temperatures drop during winter months, electricity use naturally rises. Colder weather drives us indoors, where we rely more heavily on home heating systems, our water heaters and household appliances. Heating systems, by far our homes’ biggest power users, run longer and more frequently in the winter to keep us comfortable and warm. Combine that with the fact that we all tend to use electricity the most at the same times—in the mornings and late evenings during cold weather months—and the result is significant pressure on our electric grid.

Palmetto Electric works closely with Central Electric Power Cooperative, our provider of wholesale generation and transmission solutions, to plan for these seasonal weather patterns and changes.

This partnership involves detailed planning to ensure you have reliable power whenever you need it. However, it’s important to remember that our co-op is part of a much larger regional and national electric grid.

During the winter months, when homes and businesses across the country are using more electricity simultaneously, overall demand can approach—or even exceed—available supply. This is especially true during severe weather events, such as ice storms, sudden temperature drops or equipment malfunctions that reduce generation capacity.

To prepare for and reduce the likelihood for these scenarios, Palmetto Electric and Central take proactive measures to strengthen reliability year-round. These include routine system maintenance, investments in grid modernization and comprehensive disaster response planning.

These steps are designed to ensure our portion of the grid remains resilient even under extreme conditions. Still, maintaining a reliable electric system requires a collective effort—and every member can play an important role in lowering demand when the grid is under stress.

These simple actions can help reduce energy use during periods of extreme temperatures and high demand. 

• Lower your thermostat. Even lowering the temperature by a few degrees can help reduce the strain your heating system puts on the grid.

• Delay running large appliances such as dryers, washing machines and dishwashers.

• Adjust your water heater. Setting it to 120 degrees and spacing out showers helps conserve both energy and hot water.

• Unplug unnecessary devices. Power used for lighting and electronics isn’t a major portion of your home energy use, but every little bit helps.

Understanding how winter weather impacts electricity demand is key to maintaining system reliability. By practicing simple energy conservation habits at home, you not only save money on your monthly bill, but you also help strengthen the resilience of the grid that powers our community.

Together, through small actions and shared awareness, we can ensure that our homes remain warm, our lights stay on and our local grid continues to serve us reliably throughout the season.

A. Berl Davis Jr.

President and CEO