HELP Program
Through participating in HELP, residential customers team up with Public Service to reduce the amount of electricity air conditioners and water heaters drain during those rare occasions when there's extreme power consumption or a system emergency.
When you volunteer for the HELP program, Public Service will mount a small remote-controlled switch on the outside of your home next to your central air-conditioning unit. You also may choose to have us install a similar switch for your electric water heater. There is no charge for these installations. In fact, you'll even receive a small credit on your Public Service bill as our way of thanking you for participating.
If a power crunch should occur, Public Service will activate the remote-controlled switches on your air conditioner and/or water heater. This will turn off only the specified equipment—it will not interfere with the rest of your electrical system.
This does not mean we'll control your equipment every time the weather gets hot. Current projections indicate we will have to manage power to your air conditioner and water heater under the HELP program for several hours on as many as eight to ten days each year.
You may select one or both of the two HELP Choices for your central air conditioner and one HELP choice for your electric water heater.
HELP Choices
Best Choice - Central Air Conditioner - Load Shed and Cycling
- Your air conditioner may be turned off for a continuous period of time; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. for example.
- Turn-off will likely occur in the afternoon and early evening and last between one and eight hours. The maximum turn-off time is eight hours per day.
- Turn-off is not likely to occur between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m., or on weekends.
- $8 credit each month, June, July, August and September for a total annual credit of $32.
Choice 2 - Central Air Conditioner - Cycling Only
- With cycling, your central air conditioner may be turned off for a period of time, such as 15 minutes of each half hour, after which it automatically is turned back on. This automatic cycling is most likely to occur in the afternoon and early evening and last between one and eight hours.
- Turn-off is not likely to occur between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. or on weekends.
- Air conditioner cycling is not very noticeable, because the unit will still be on for a portion of each hour.
- No bill credit.
Choice 3 - Electric Water Heater - Load Shed and Cycling
- Your electric water heater may be turned off for a maximum of eight hours per day.
- Load shed is most likely to occur on hot Summer days but could occur at any time during the day.
- Because hot water is held in your water heater's storage tank for your continued use, turn-off usually is not noticeable.
- $2 credit each month for 12 months, a total annual credit of $24.
To participate in the HELP program, call 24-hour customer service at 800-450-7260.