Power Saver™ Program
Power Saver™ Volunteers

Who are Power Saver Volunteers?
Power Saver™ Volunteers are Austin’s newest champions.

As a Power Saver Volunteer you are taking a few simple steps, to help reduce the high demand for electrical power during peak usage times. These actions help Austin Energy avoid the need to build new power generation plants and purchase expensive electricity to meet demand. Better still, they help you save money and protect the environment.

What is peak demand?
Most of us cool homes, cook dinner, wash dishes and do laundry at similar times—in the early evening. This heavy use increases during the hot Austin summer, causing the demand for electrical power to increase, putting a strain on our electric system. To meet Austin’s ever growing demand for electrical power; we must either provide more power, or purchase it during the most expensive hours of the day.

How does my part help?
Everyone doing their part as Power Saver Volunteers can add up to big energy savings. If all 338,000 Austin residential customers turned off just two 40-watt light bulbs, the energy reduction would power 3,100 homes!

What can I do?
By taking these four simple actions to use less electricity during high usage times, you can make a big difference in the amount of energy needed to power our city:

• Switch off all unnecessary lights
• Delay washing and drying clothes, and using your dishwasher
• Cook dinner in your microwave oven, rather than with an electric range
• Adjust your thermostat temperature if possible by two to four degrees

By becoming aware of the high usage times during the day and by taking these and other simple steps to minimize our own energy usage at those times, we can all work together to make a big difference in our city and the power it takes to keep us comfortable.

For more information on how to save energy during the hottest times of year, check out the Top Ten Power Saver Tips.

Power Saver™ Program—Saving Energy Together