The practice of reducing energy use during peak periods is primarily aimed at

• A. lowering energy costs by minimizing demand charges
• B. increasing energy production at peak times
• C. replacing all equipment with newer models
• D. ignoring load patterns

Answer: (B)

During peak periods, electricity demand is at its highest, so reducing energy use then is about shaving that peak to keep the grid stable and costs down. By lowering the maximum load, utilities can avoid the expensive, high-cost energy that’s required at those times and reduce the risk of outages, while customers can also save on demand charges. This is typically done through demand-response actions or shifting usage to off-peak times, like adjusting thermostats, delaying large appliances, or using programmable controls. It’s not about increasing production at peak times, which would raise costs and emissions and wouldn’t address the load spike.