Sponsored by:
As we head into the winter season, CPS Energy reminds customers of its color-coded conservation system. The system is aimed at helping customers conserve energy, save money on their energy bills and support statewide grid reliability.
Our color-coded conservation system is made up of four levels: Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. These levels are designed to provide specific conservation tips depending on the color of the day and are directly associated with the anticipated demand for energy.
Most days will be Green Days, which call for everyday conservation actions. Yellow Days will be called as temperatures drop and a higher strain on the grid occurs. Yellow Days encourage more energy conservation between peak demand hours — these are times when energy consumption is at the highest and can be found on our website. Orange Alerts and Red Alerts will only be issued if the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the statewide grid manager, declares that grid reliability is at risk.
During the winter, especially on colder days, demand for energy typically spikes as more people use their heaters to stay warm. That’s where Cam the chameleon comes in! Our new chameleon friend is very savvy when it comes to saving energy and money and has partnered with CPS Energy to deliver the color of the day and energy savings tips through our website and social media channels. Cam changes colors to match the color of the day, making it easier to know at a glance what the energy demand looks like and what conservation actions are needed for that day. Cam has also shared color-specific tips that can be used at home to save money on your energy bill as well as help grid reliability:
Green Days:
• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees.
• Run ceiling fans clockwise — this forces the warm air that rises naturally near the ceiling into the room.
• Open shades and blinds to allow sunlight to come in.
• Turn off unnecessary lights.
• Unplug electronics when not in use. Devices left plugged in can still drain power — this is called phantom energy!
Yellow Days:
• Continue Green Day conservation measures.
• Check cpsenergy.com/ConserveAndSave and our social media for times of day when more conservation is needed.
• Adjust thermostats a few degrees lower to minimize HVAC use, if health permits.
• Avoid using large appliances like your oven, washer, dryer and dishwasher.
• Charge electric vehicles (EVs) at night after 10 p.m.
Orange and Red Alerts:
These alerts will only be issued if ERCOT declares that grid reliability is at risk. During these alerts, it’s important to limit power usage and visit our website and social media for updates.
CPS Energy would also like to remind all our customers to sign up for Energy Alerts and follow CPS Energy’s outage map and social media for updates. Customers can also utilize Manage My Account to view their energy usage and access more energy savings tips.
Thanks to Cam’s monocular vision, he has one eye on conservation and the other on helping you save money! Visit our website for more tips on conserving energy, being prepared for emergencies, learning about residential programs and rebates and more.
