Load Management

Load management (also referred to as load control) refers to controlling various customer electric loads during times of peak usage on the electric system. During peak electric usage times, load management helps shift the load peak to when customers do not use as much electricity by controlling equipment such as water heaters and irrigation. By managing these loads, the Cooperative can reduce the potential costs of wholesale power purchases, which saves money and resources. Load management saves member-owners more than $1.8 million in power supply costs each year by shifting electrical loads to off-peak periods. Members can save through program incentives by having equipment connected to the load management program.

Sioux Valley Energy has had a load management program for more than 40 years and was among the first co-op utilities in the nation to have one. 

Sioux Valley Energy members are part of a larger program through our power supplier. Collectively, more than 80,800 electric loads in homes, farms and businesses of member consumers throughout eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota currently participate in the program. These loads include electric water heaters, irrigation systems and other big energy users.

When is load control initiated?

Load control is initiated whenever it is deemed necessary by our power suppliers – East River Electric in South Dakota and L&O Power in Minnesota. Most load control is initiated during times of temperature extremes, mainly in the afternoons and evenings during high temperatures in the summer months and mornings and evenings during low temperatures in the winter months. However load control is used every month of the year to some degree to help keep your energy costs as low as possible.

How do I know if I'm being controlled?

South Dakota members can log on Here. Click on the load management tab, click on current status and you'll be able to see what loads are being controlled. If you would like to know which group you are in please contact Sioux Valley Energy’s Metering and Energy Services Department at (800) 234-1960.

Minnesota members may contact the dispatch center at (800) 234-1960 to check on their control status.

Load Control Receivers

Sioux Valley Energy must be contacted if there is a need to bypass a load control device for any reason.

Aclara load management

Aclara

Used in Minnehaha County and parts of Lake and Moody Counties in South Dakota and in Minnesota.

Steady Green LED = controller has power 
Red LED on = There is a fault 
Steady Yellow LED = load is being controlled

Cannon 3100

Cannon Technologies 3100

Used in Brandon area and Minnesota

Red LED off: not controlled
Red LED on: load controlled
Steady Green LED: controller has power
Green light off: no power to receiver.

Eaton load management

Eaton

Cellular load receivers started 2024

Red light = Shedding in progress
Green light = Power on
Yellow light = Cellular Communications Connected

Note: LED indicators are not very bright behind dark plastic covers.

Enermet load receiver

Enermet

Green switch closest to blinking light is for the water heater
Up = power is on (light blinks every 7 seconds)
Down = load controlled (Typically light will blink about every second)

Enermet 2

Enermet

Green switch is for the water heater.
Up = power is on (load not controlled)
Down = power off, load is controlled

Red switch: A position (Up)=Power off, Controlled
Red switch: B position (Down)= Power on, Not Controlled

Zellweger LM receiver

Zellweger

Blinking light indicates unit has power. Usually, switch farthest away from light is the water heater switch. The switch nearest the light is usually air conditioning.

BBC load management

BBC

Used only in South Dakota to control water heater

Lights may no longer be working.

Water Heater Load Management

Load management equipment will be installed or tested, if existing, by SVE personnel when the water heater is installed and fully operational. Contractors/members agree to allow load management to be installed in order to receive the special pricing and for the water heater to operate at full capacity. Builders with new construction should contact SVE to install load management and enable the unit for full capacity prior to the final plumbing inspection and before the closing of the home.

South Dakota icon 250 pixels

South Dakota:
Water heaters may be controlled up to 4 consecutive hours. If load control is still needed after a four hour period the water heaters will be cycled ON for one hour and OFF for two hours.

Minnesota icon 250 pixels

Minnesota:
Water heaters may be controlled up to 45 minutes of every hour depending on the severity of the peak.

No controlling is done after 11 p.m. so tanks should be full of hot water each morning.

Recovery Rate

Water heater recovery rate is approximately 22 to 26 gallons of hot water per hour depending on the season.

Air Conditioning Control Program Discontinued

Work continues to remove controls from air conditioners for existing members. Members who could be remotely disconnected were removed from the program in 2024. All others will require a site visit to remove controls. This will be done as time allows or any time a site visit is required for load management or sub-metering work such as when a new or replacement heating and cooling system is installed. Any sub-metered water heater will also be switched to a $6 monthly credit.

Irrigation Load Management

Members participating in controlled irrigation receive a reduced rate per metered kW for the billing cycles of June through October. Irrigation systems are the last to be controlled and the first to be restored during a control period. Control notifications are available to members via phone, text, or email. Irrigation systems are turned off during control periods. They will remain off with no cycling until the peak usage period has passed.  SVE is not responsible for missed control periods.

Traditional Load Control Equipment

SVE is no longer installing new traditional load management devices. Our power supplier will be phasing that program out.  We will continue to maintain existing irrigation load management devices while parts are available.  We are encouraging members to make the transition to the third-party irrigation remote managed program for devices such as AgSense, Fieldwise, FieldNet etc.  

What if you need to pump during peak periods?

Members connected to SVE’s traditional load control equipment can disable the device by cutting the seal in order to pump during peak periods. When this occurs, the demand charge shall be computed at the full-service rate until the load control is resealed. Make sure to call SVE at (800) 234-1960 to notify the Cooperative that the load control device has been deactivated and if/when you would like the device to be resealed. A $60.00 fee will apply to reseal a bypassed control. If a member does not notify the Cooperative of a bypassed control, a $120.00 fee will apply regardless if the member chooses to have the Cooperative reseal or remove the control. SVE will not reactivate a disabled load control device unless specifically requested by the member.

Third-Party Remote Managed Equipment

Sioux Valley Energy offers a third-party remote managed irrigation program. A $1,500 rebate is available per device for a third-party remote managed irrigation system if it meets the following requirements: the new system eliminates the need for a SVE traditional load control; has the ability to ingest automated notice from the power supplier to shed and restore via email, text, or voice; provides less than a 15-minute latency from the power supplier to load shed/retore; and the third-party agency provides SVE notice of customer bypass. Members must agree to participate in the third-party remote managed irrigation program for a minimum of 5 years.

What if you need to pump during peak periods?

Members with third-party remote managed irrigation systems can simply choose to override the notification of a control time. When this occurs, the demand charge shall be computed at the full-service rate for that applicable billing cycle. A report of bypass will be sent from the third-party provider.