“During this time with all the inflation it really is mattering to families,” said Connexus CEO Greg Ridderbusch. Ridderbusch says there are a few reasons rates have been able to stay constant. One of the reasons is some of the creative infrastructure that Connexus has in place. Connexus built its first solar garden in 2014 and built a battery storage facility to store this energy in 2018. This energy is then used to lighten the load at times when electricity is pricey.
“When it is more expensive here in the Twin Cities is when we’re all hot, and we want our air conditioning on,” said Ridderbusch. “So it’s during those few hours the day that electricity is the most expensive, and that’s when we use tools like storage and solar to reduce it.”
Connexus members also contribute to reduced electric loads through a voluntary program called Peak Time Rebate. Connexus predicts when demand is going to be high and asks members to reduce their use during that time. It saves Connexus money; and they pay the members for their reduction as well.
“If you are a Connexus member and you want to do it – it’s your complete option – we’ll send you a note during the three summer months ‘Hey tomorrow please reduce’ and if you do we’ll pay you for the amount of electricity that you reduced. There’s no one else doing it in the state; and it’s an example of how we’re using technology and data to help our members save money.”
Ridderbusch also credited Connexus employees for working hard to keep the rates low.
“We work every year to the end of the year to see if we can do it again, and we’ve been able to do it five years in a row. We’re all seeing inflationary increases,” said Ridderbusch. “We’re just happy to have done this for 2022 for our members.”
