Case Study: Choptank Electric Cooperative cuts peak energy use and lowers member costs with EZ Texting SMS alerts

Choptank Electric Cooperative - Customer Case Study

Choptank Electric Cooperative, a member-owned nonprofit serving more than 52,000 customers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, faced rising wholesale peak power rates that threatened to increase member costs. To avoid passing higher charges to members, the co-op launched “Beat The Peak,” a voluntary program asking members to curb energy use during high-priced peak periods and sought a way to deliver regular, timely reminders beyond occasional bill stuffers.

Rather than email, IT Manager Bret Shortall chose EZ Texting’s SMS alert system—easy to use and pay-as-you-go—because many members lack mobile email and work offsite. Using a web signup widget promoted via bill stuffers, radio and TV, the May 2009 launch gained 156 subscribers in two weeks; Choptank plans to send 4–6 evening texts on peak days to reduce collective usage and lower wholesale costs passed on to members.

Choptank Electric Cooperative