2012-07-03 Response to RFI including recommendation to allow continuance of large storage tank water heaters with quick recovery heating elements.

Northern Plains Electric Cooperative is a rural distribution cooperative that has had success using our off-peak load control program on large storage tank water heaters. Beginning in 1984 and continuing today, we now have 30% of our members on direct load control of their water heaters. This means we can control 11.75 MW of connected water heater load and shift it's hours of operation to a non-critical time of day for our transmission coop. supplier, Central Power Electric Cooperative and generation cooperative, Basin Electric Power Cooperative. In exchange for participating in this program, and allowing us to lower our monthly power suppliers coincidental demand for electric energy, our members water heaters are metered seperately at a lower kWh rate saving them money as well. This is truly a win-win situation. The idea of changing this successful program would be a detriment to our members and to the distribution, transmission and generation electric cooperatives that they are member-owners of. Northern Plains Electric Cooperative would like to see the continuance of large storage tank water heaters with quick recovery heating elements for any member of ours to be able to participate in this off-peak water heater program, which we can see is helping everyone.