Managing Our Electric Grid
Learn how MGE continues to serve customers with safe, reliable energy during times of increased electric use.
As your community energy company and a nationwide leader in electric reliability, MGE serves as the “conductor” of an increasingly cleaner, more dynamic electric grid.
As your community energy company and a nationwide leader in electric reliability, MGE serves as the “conductor” of an increasingly cleaner, more dynamic electric grid.
Regardless of the season, safe and reliable electricity is an essential part of our daily lives. Utilities like MGE work to provide power to all customers 24-7, including when demand for power is at its highest—for example, on the hottest day of the year when everyone is cooling their households and businesses. MGE has been in the top three most reliable electric utilities in the nation for more than a decade. And we expect to continue to provide our customers with safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity.
Learn more about how our grid operates and how you can help to reduce our collective energy use this summer.
Our grid is getting greener
MGE has added a number of new renewable generation facilities in recent years. Our energy supply includes many sources, including wind and solar. Solar power helps to provide carbon-free energy at times when energy use is at its highest in the summer.
Working with our customers to continue to decarbonize our energy supply will help MGE achieve carbon reductions of at least 80% by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We’ve said since introducing our carbon reduction goals, if we can go further faster by working with our customers, we will.
Being energy efficient helps reduce demand for electricity—and achieve shared energy goals
Practicing energy efficiency every day is something we all can do to help manage the grid and long-term costs for all customers, and to reduce emissions. MGE has developed programs and pilots to help customers manage their usage during peak summer demand. Our smart thermostat program,
MGE Connect®, is one example. MGE Connect is an optional program that reduces peak demand through the use of smart thermostats to manage residential air conditioners remotely on the hottest days of the year.
If you don’t have a smart thermostat, there are other ways to beat the heat and help save energy this summer:
- Set your thermostat at 78°F or higher, if health permits, and turn off or set your air conditioner to 85°F when no one is home.
- Use shades and drapes to block out direct sun during the day.
- Cook outside or with a microwave oven instead of a stove.
- Use a whole house fan, room fans or ceiling fans instead of air conditioning.
- Turn off appliances including computers and televisions when not in use.
- Reduce humidity by reducing sources of moisture, running exhaust fans after showering and cooking and using an ENERGY STAR®-rated dehumidifier.
published: Jun-23-2022