Ever wonder why local energy bills jumped by ~50% last winter? Village Trustee Katie Brennan broke down the details at today’s meeting. While Lake Placid has benefited from cheap hydroelectric power since the late 1950s, winter heating pushes local demand beyond our ~28–29 MW allocation. State-wide power supply is extremely tight due to closed power plants, increased regional demand, and exports to neighboring areas like New England and Quebec. Our hydroelectric rate gets penalized based on our highest monthly peak usage—meaning momentary demand spikes force us to buy significantly more high-cost energy on the open market. What's being done and how you can help. The Village is locking in set energy rates ahead of time to protect residents from unpredictable open-market price spikes. Advanced smart meters are rolling out over the next year to provide better real-time usage data. Avoid running energy-heavy appliances (like EV chargers, dryers, or dishwashers) during peak hours (7–9 AM and 4–9 PM). Payment spreading plans and energy audits via ANCA are available to help manage winter expenses. Together, small adjustments to when we use energy can save the entire community big money! 
