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Umm, yes. I've seen electrical rates cited on more than one occasion as the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7 during the pre-season when they don't

Umm, yes. I've seen electrical rates cited on more than one occasion as the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7 during the pre-season when they don't even have customers on the mountain. But don't take my word for it, it's published on the power company website. NY: http://www.nyseg.com/YourHome/pricingandrates/daynighrate.html http://www.nyseg.com/YourHome/pricingandrates/daynighrate.ht... VT: https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/page.php?pid=49&name=commercial_rates https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/page.php?pid=49&name=... The difference is almost 30%. And that's only the tip of the iceberg. When you look at the area around most ski hills, the mountain is sucking more electricity during snowmaking season than everyone else in the area combined. When you are that big, the power company shows up and negotiates everything. Rates, times, usage caps, etc. The mountain can afford to buy its own generators (or diesel powered pumps/compressors) so the power company has a good reason to cut them a deal, but like every negotiation both sides want something and the power company is looking for someone to buy its excess constant capacity. The relationship is so tight that the power company will call up the mountain and offer a lower daily rate based on usage elsewhere and the mountain will make snow accordingly. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2006-12-10-vermont-snowmaking_x.htm http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2006-12-10-vermont-snow...

anamax 15y ago
> I've seen electrical rates cited on more than one occasion as the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7 during the pre-season when they don't even have customers on the mountain. But don't take my word for it, Fair enough. > it's published on the power company website. Hold it - those cites just say that night rates are lower. They don't say that lower rates are "the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7", let alone the only reason why ski resorts run their snow machines at night (which was the original claim). I don't know what fraction of a ski-resort's expenses go to power for snow-making. Do you? The fraction that goes to power goes to the question whether day-time vs night time actually makes a difference that matters. For example, saving 100% of 1% is only 1%. I doubt that a ski resort would risk pissing off customers to save 1%. For example, it may well be that day-time made snow is inferior, or that the transion layer from day-time made snow to night time made snow annoys skiiers. (IIRC, most natural snowfall is at night.)

anamax 15y ago

> I've seen electrical rates cited on more than one occasion as the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7 during the pre-season when they don't even have customers on the mountain. But don't take my word for it, Fair enough. > it's published on the power company website. Hold it - those cites just say that night rates are lower. They don't say that lower rates are "the sole reason why they are not making snow 24/7", let alone the only reason why ski resorts run their snow machines at night (which was the original claim). I don't know what fraction of a ski-resort's expenses go to power for snow-making. Do you? The fraction that goes to power goes to the question whether day-time vs night time actually makes a difference that matters. For example, saving 100% of 1% is only 1%. I doubt that a ski resort would risk pissing off customers to save 1%. For example, it may well be that day-time made snow is inferior, or that the transion layer from day-time made snow to night time made snow annoys skiiers. (IIRC, most natural snowfall is at night.)