Backup Relief

Description

The Backup Relief/Dual Fuel (Energy Controlled Service) program is for new or existing electricity customers, in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, whose home or business has a primary electric heat source and an alternative fossil fuel heat source.

The program offers customers the opportunity to save money on their electric heating costs by allowing Xcel Energy to control (interrupt) their primary electric heat source, during peak heating times (Oct - May). During an interruption, customers must be able to switch to their backup/dual fuel heat source.

Pros

• You have the potential to cut your electric heating bill in half, if you can switch to a backup-heating source during energy control periods.

Cons

• You must invest in a back-up heating system.
• You are responsible for purchasing the correct duplex meter socket and hiring a licensed electrician to install according to our specifications.
• This program is not available for central air conditioners. Consider Saver’s Switch, which gives you a discount on your June-Sept. electric energy charges when you let us cycle your air conditioner on summer’s hottest days.

Eligibility Requirements

This program is available to residential and commercial customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota with permanently connected interruptible loads of up to 50 kW, which would be under Xcel Energy control.

The primary heat source must be electric: baseboard, boiler, heat pump or furnace.

The back-up (alternative) heat source must be a fossil fuel: fuel oil, propane, or natural gas.

Fireplaces and stoves that are not heater rated and thermostatically controlled are not approved as an alternative-heating source.

The back-up heat source must:

• Be able to run more than 12 hours.
• Have enough back-up fuel on site to supply 30% of your heating needs.
• Supply 100% of your heating needs when the primary heat source is interrupted.

You must participate for a minimum of one year from date of enrollment.

You must determine the rate you would like to participate in (see the table below for actual rates):

Energy Controlled Rate is available to customers with the following primary electric heat source: baseboard, boiler, heat pump or furnace

The rate charged on this meter remains at the same low price year round.

All load wired into this meter can be interrupted (controlled) year round.

How will this rate option affect the interruption (control) of equipment wired into this meter?

• Winter (Oct - May) we will interrupt (control) the primary electric heat source, along with anything else wired into this meter such as a water heater. This would include a heat pump (heating) system.
• Summer (June - Sept) we will interrupt (control) anything wired into this meter. This would include a heat pump (cooling) system.

Optional Energy Controlled Rate is available to customers with heat pump installations that do not want their heat pump (cooling) system controlled during the summer months (non-interruptible service).

The rate charged on this meter is lower in the winter months and higher in the summer months.

The heat pump (cooling) system would not be interrupted (controlled) in the summer months. Anything else wired into this meter, such as a water heater, can be interrupted (controlled) in the summer months.

How will this rate option affect the interruption (control) of equipment wired into this meter?

• Winter (Oct - May) we will interrupt (control) the primary electric heat source along with anything else wired into this meter. This would include a heat pump (heating) system.
• Summer (June - Sept) we will not interrupt (control) the heat pump (cooling) system, however we may interrupt (control) anything else wired into this meter, such as a water heater. The installer will have to set-up the radio control switch to bypass the heat pump (cooling) system.

Customer (Installer) Responsibility

A licensed installer (electrician/HVAC contractor) must:

• Install a duplex (two-position) meter socket with a heavy-duty, lever-actuated bypass mechanism on your service entrance.
• The meter socket must be UL listed and labeled, used in accordance with its labeling and installed per the 2002 National Electric Code.
• We provide complete meter socket details and specification in our Xcel Energy Standard for Electrical Installation and Use Manual. Download meter specifications now
• Your installer may contact the Builders Call Line at 1-800-628-2121 to request a copy.
• Your installer may contact our Electric Meter Department at 1-800-422-0782, option 2 regarding any technical meter socket specifications or installation questions.
• The installer will separate your electric heating load from the rest of your home electric supply. The electric heating load and home electric supply can then be metered separately, so that we can interrupt the operation of your electric heat without disrupting the electricity that is supplied to your appliances, lighting, electronics, etc.
• Adding your electric water heater will help save even more. Because interruptions may last longer than 12 hours, we recommend at least 100 gallons of hot water storage capacity.
• Install and hook-up the Xcel Energy provided radio-controlled switch that regulates your heating activity during control periods. Installation instructions are included with the switch.
• Only one switch is provided regardless of the number of appliances controlled.
• Your installer may contact our Electric Meter Department at 1-800-422-0782, option 2 for any technical questions about the installation of the radio-controlled switch.

We recommend:

• Wiring the heating systems together so the switchover from electric to back-up heat occurs automatically during energy-control periods.
• Including a manual switchover device to test both heating systems before winter begins.

Rates

Residential - Energy Controlled Rate:

Residential - Optional Energy Controlled Rate:

Commercial - Energy Controlled Rate:

Commercial - Optional Energy Controlled Rate:

Rates are subject to resource and/or fuel adjustments, city fees and taxes where applicable.  Rates may change upon PUC approval.

*Customers billed under this rate are subject to the following adjustments or riders:  Fuel Clause, Resource Adjustment, Environmental Improvement Rider, Monthly Minimum Charge, Surcharge.

Fuel Clause average 1/07 – 5/07 = .02752/kWh.

How to Sign Up

• For new constructions, call the Builders Call Line (BCL) at 1-800-628-2121.
• Residential customers call 1-800-895-4999.
• Commercial customers call 1-800-481-4700.