Alliant Energy begins voluntary appliance shutdown

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Interstate Power and Light Co., a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, says it will begin cycling air conditioners on an off for customers who voluntarily agreed to participate in an energy savings program.

The program is initiated when sustained high temperatures result in peak demand of electricity.

The utility company remotely turns the central air conditioner unit off and back on in 15-minute intervals to reduce overall energy usage for those who enrolled in the program.

Customers north of Interstate 80 in north-central Iowa are included between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday.

Some of the larger communities included are Mason City, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Clinton, Grinnell and Newton.

Participating customers are paid $8 per month from June through September for signing up.