PNM customers signing up to switch their AC off
Posted at: 07/25/2012 4:56 PM
| Updated at: 07/25/2012 6:59 PM
By: Eddie Garcia, KOB Eyewitness News 4
This summer, during the hottest part of the day, PNM is powering down a select number of their customers' air conditioners - but no one is complaining. In fact, people are signing up for it.
Years ago, Pauline and Bill Kelly lived through more than their share of rolling blackouts in New England before moving here in the 1960s.
"You only have to look towards the eastern coast and down through the last very few years - there are a lot of power cut-offs and all because they just get overloaded," said Bill Kelly.
That is why the Kelly's are volunteering for PNM's energy saver program.
It's a network of more than 30,000 private refrigerated air conditioner units in homes and small businesses, that can be dialed down by PNM at the flip of a switch.
PNM uses remote controlled boxes attached to the air conditioner unit. During peak days, engineers can activate the box which reduces power to the air conditioning unit.
PNM will exercise that option during the summer only in the afternoon hours when the grid is stretched to its limits.
By doing that, PNM said they can save the same amount of power a small electric plant can generate.
The Kelly's said they can feel the house warm up just a little bit, but it is never for more than a few hours in the afternoon.
"That's a lot better than someday coming out and suddenly getting notification that the power is cut off because the overloads are so heavy they can't keep up," said Bill Kelly.
As a bonus, the Kelly's get a $25 check from PNM once a year.
"Hey, you know, we live on social security now - anything helps," said Bill Kelly,
They say this small sacrifice is worth it for them.
"Anything that anybody can do energy-wise to help our state - I'm all for it," said Pauline Kelly.
PNM said the program is not for everyone. Only families or small businesses with central refrigerated air can volunteer.
For more information about the PNM Energy Saver Program, follow this link.
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