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Dual Fuel

Questions about Dual Fuel and the different available options? Fill out this brief form and a Dual Fuel expert will follow up.


Dual Fuel Overview

Dual Fuel is an interruptible service rate designed primarily for electric heat that provides customers a discount on their usage in exchange for occasional interruptions from Superior Water, Light & Power. Interruptions occur when loads across our territory AND pricing on the electric market are both high. These interruptions help keep electricity costs down for all Superior Water, Light & Power customers.

Superior Water, Light & Power offers Dual Fuel to serve a variety of customers and their interruptible service needs including, but not limited to, electric heat, electric water heating, EV chargers, slab heat and more. The Dual Fuel service is a full separate service to your house and requires its own meter socket that is wired to an electric service panel connected only to your interruptible load. When a customer has electric heat on the Dual Fuel Service they should be prepared to heat with a non-electric backup heat source during interruptions, or have sufficient storage heat to maintain comfort during interruptions.

Below are the rate options available to you

Electric Space Heating:

Designed for customers with electric heat and who have an appropriate non-electric backup heat source.

Electric Water Heating:

Designed for customers with electric water heaters.


Q. How long will the interruptions be?

Dual Fuel can be interrupted two times per day, up to four hours at a time. A minimum of two hours is required between interruptions and the maximum the service can be interrupted is 300 hours per calendar year.

Q. Can I be on Dual Fuel service if my backup heat source is wood?

Customers with wood backup heat sources are ideal candidates for the Dual Fuel rates. The shorter interruption periods with the two-hour break in between provides a safety net for customers with manual backup heat sources.

Q. Will I be notified if there is a Dual Fuel interruption?

Sign up to receive notifications of interruptions in MyAccount. You can also view current interruptions here.

Q. Can I go off the Dual Fuel Rate if I decide to travel during the winter?

No. If you decide to stop your Dual Fuel service or switch to a different rate you are expected to remain on the new rate for 12 months.

Q. How do I make changes to my Dual Fuel Rate?

Customers can request to change their Dual Fuel Rate or to completely discontinue their Dual Fuel Service here.

Bypass Metering Requirements

If Lot Line Metering is Not Used

In order to minimize power interruptions during meter replacement or calibration, and to ensure safety of Superior Water, Light & Power employees, all residential, customer-owned, self contained meter sockets must have a jaw-clamping, lever-type bypass. Horn-type bypasses are not acceptable.

Self Contained Metering

200-Amp Single-Phase 3-Wire—4 or 5 terminal, 200-amp, jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass, weatherproof, ringless, screwless cover, 5th jaw at nine o’clock position, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground.
320-Amp Single-Phase 3-Wire—4 terminal, 320-amp, jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass, weatherproof, ringless, screwless cover, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground Anti-inversion clips in the upper right jaw are not allowed.
200 Amp 2 Position Single Phase 3 Wire—4 terminal, weatherproof, 200-amp jaw-clamping, lever-operated bypass per position, ringless, screwless cover, hub opening for overhead, closure plate or plain top for underground.

Approved Meter Sockets—List of Manufacturers

Landis and Gyr, Milbank, T&B, Anchor, Durham, Siemens, Square D, Cutler Hammer and Midwest Electric are examples of UL approved metering equipment providers.

Sample Part Numbers Millbank U-4801-XL-5T9
Siemens Drawing 48804, PN 48804-02NU
Sample Meter Spec

*Note: Metering services greater than 320A and in excess of 240V require instrument-rated metering equipment.

Meter Location

Outdoor metering is required for all installations unless prior approval is given.

For outdoor installations the center line of all meters shall be between four and six feet from the finished grade.

A minimum three feet of unobstructed working space, as measured from the surface on which it is mounted, should be maintained in front of the meter, and a minimum of 12 inches of unobstructed space should be maintained on all sides of the meter cover Ample space shall be provided for all meters, metering equipment and other apparatus so that they can be safely read, inspected and tested.

Please call Superior Water Light & Power’s Meter Department at 1-800-227-7957 for questions regarding sockets.

*Note: Your local or state electrical code may have additional requirements.


 

SWL&P’s parent company, ALLETE, has entered an agreement to be acquired by a partnership led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Global Infrastructure Partners and start the process to become a private company.

This transaction will not change our operations, strategy or shared purpose and values, and it is business as usual for all of us at SWL&P. Learn more at www.ALLETEforward.com.