Irrigation Load Control and Incentive Program

Clay-Union Electric Cooperative is pleased to offer irrigation members several load management and incentive opportunities through our partnership with East River Electric Power Cooperative. These programs are designed to help reduce energy costs and support efficient system operations.

Program Highlights

·  Members who reduce irrigation load during East River’s monthly system peaks can save
   $23 per kW compared to the on-peak (non-controlled) rate.

· Participation in the off-peak (load management) rate is voluntary.

· Clay-Union offers a $1,500 rebate per pump for irrigator's who enroll a qualified third-party
   irrigation management system with unlimited opt-in/opt-out capability.

· Control events are based on monthly peaking conditions for the East River Electric system as a
   whole, not just Clay-Union.

· Irrigation is the last load shed and the first restored when control is initiated; water heaters and
   industrial loads are controlled first.

· Control periods may occur as follows: April 1–May 31 (6–11 a.m. and 5–10 p.m.) and
  June 1 September 30 (11 a.m.–10 p.m.).

· Historical averages over the past three years:

·         28 total control events per season

·         150 total hours of control per season

·         5.5 hours average duration per control event

Real-time notifications of irrigation control (voice call, email, and/or text) are available at no cost. To enroll, please contact our office at 605-624-2673 or 1-800-696-2832.

Clay-Union works with AgSense, FieldWise, and FieldNET to ensure third-party systems meet program requirements and can interconnect with the irrigation load management program. If you use a different vendor, please contact us to confirm eligibility.

These programs help reduce demand charges incurred during peak usage. Savings realized by Clay-Union are returned to members through program benefits and rates.

Equipment Requirements

  1. For new installations, the system must eliminate the need for an East River load control receiver (irrigation controller). (Existing receivers will be removed over time, if not at the time of changeover.)
  2. The system must be able to receive automated shed and restore notifications from East River via email, text, or voice.
  3. The system must provide less than 15-minute latency from East River notification to shed/restore response.
  4. The system must provide Clay-Union notice of any customer-initiated bypass.
  5. Provide proof of purchase including date, model, and location.

Member Responsibilities

  1. Agree to participate in the program for a minimum of five (5) years.

  2. If you leave the irrigation load control program early, you will be responsible for the cost to replace the third-party receiver with an East River receiver. The current cost is $1,500.00 (new receiver).

If you bypass your load control receiver and your system operates during East River’s peak day and time, a demand charge of $23 per kW will apply. Although there may be multiple control periods during the month, you will be billed on only one peak time. It is risky to assume that any day will not be the peak day.  

If you have an AgSense, FieldNET, or FieldWise receiver, the same rules apply. If your system operates during East River’s peak day and time, the demand charge is $23 per kW.

If you bypass the Clay-Union/East River receiver, please call our office so we can re-seal it. If you do not call prior to the 1st of the following month, you may be at risk of hitting another peak and additional demand charges could apply. You do not need to call if you have the 3rd party receiver, only if you have broken our seal.

Please refer to the attached demand-waiver schedule for approved periods when irrigation systems may operate without risk of control or demand charges.  During these waiver periods, you may operate your pivot(s) without being controlled and without risk of a demand charge.

If you would like to receive text or email notifications of peak control times, please contact our office at
800-696-2832 or 605-624-2673.

We appreciate your participation and your partnership in helping manage peak demand for the benefit of all Clay-Union members.