power reduction and cpap questions

PG&E wants me to let them install a device to reduce power flow to my house at times of intense power needs. What would this do to my cpap machine and use? Know if the power blacks out the cpap stops but reduced flow?
In their message they also talked about some people qualifying for medical priority on electricity due to medical equipment needs. (I am sure I not described this as they would, however...) Does a cpap qualify for this?
Thank you.

"Intense power needs" are usually during the day and places I have been have had a limited number of days each year they could use it (5 in Wichita, KS, for example).

I found this on the PG&E website which indicates the events occur between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. 9 to 15 days a year: "Peak Day Pricing is being introduced to encourage energy conservation when demand is higher, as required by the California Public Utilities Commission. Peak Day Pricing works in conjunction with your existing time-of-use rate plan, applying higher energy prices on 9 to 15 Event Days per year in exchange for discounted energy rates at all other times from May 1st to October 31st.† You are notified a day prior to each Event Day, so you can be sure to reduce your energy use between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on those days, when prices are significantly higher."

My BiPap is on a small UPS. If the Humidifier is off, it will last a long time. If you are having brown outs, the Pap will keep running normally as the UPS will compensate. This time of year for me I am on bypass on the Humidifier anyway.

It will cut off what its hooked to like heat and a/c, your electric bill should be less by a factor of how long they cut the power. I had something like it when I moved in here, I had it removed. If I didn't want electric service I would havd them remove the wires from my home.

When they stop coal powered power plants we won't have to worry, we won't have enough electricity or the money go pay our bills.

A cpap is a medical device but it not life support necessary, they will not cut power off with the device, just limit high use devices. Now if they could get you on a medical priority repair list, that would be good, but the way power repairs are made, probably it wouldn't help. Best thing prepare to help yourselves. Jim

yubaz wrote:PG&E wants me to let them install a device to reduce power flow to my house at times of intense power needs. What would this do to my cpap machine and use? Know if the power blacks out the cpap stops but reduced flow?
In their message they also talked about some people qualifying for medical priority on electricity due to medical equipment needs. (I am sure I not described this as they would, however...) Does a cpap qualify for this?
Thank you.

as mentioned I dont think a cpap qualifies but I would let them know about it none the less. Let them advise you.

Guest wrote:

yubaz wrote:PG&E wants me to let them install a device to reduce power flow to my house at times of intense power needs. What would this do to my cpap machine and use? Know if the power blacks out the cpap stops but reduced flow?
In their message they also talked about some people qualifying for medical priority on electricity due to medical equipment needs. (I am sure I not described this as they would, however...) Does a cpap qualify for this?
Thank you.

as mentioned I dont think a cpap qualifies but I would let them know about it none the less. Let them advise you.

A iron lung or ventolator, O2 compressor if used 24/7, these are devices ggat might qualify.

1. CPAP does qualify for medical preference and with PG&E and rate discount. I've been on both for a few years in CA.

2. For an inexpensive full time back up, I purchased a "JumpStart" Car jumper/compressor/12V DC power supply from Costco for about $75. Sears sell them also. I tried cheap units but found they run off the battery full time and the chargers are a trickle charge - definitely not a backup. The JumpStart has a DC converter running off AC so it doesn't touch the battery, UNTIL the power goes out then the DC is off the battery.

I used the unit to jump start my car and forgot to plug it back in when setting up my CPAP again. It ran all night with the humidifier and only when I started to nap the next day did I find out. Plugged it in and good as new.