Electricity costs putting the pinch on ski areas?

[salsgang]

Reading around a couple of other forums / back channel conversations it appears electricity costs are way up and that is putting a hamper on ski resort snow making / lift operations in Maine anyway.

While Sugarloaf is making snow, the volume is down and they are occasionally running lifts on diesel instead of using electricity. The power company has asked them to curtail usage during regional high demand cold weather periods. Saddleback locked in their rate but even then their electricity costs are up 45% over last year. Not good for the bottom line I am sure.

Is this a Maine-only problem or are other New England resorts facing the same issue?

 

[AdironRider]

People like to throw out this line like its killing resorts, but in reality electricity usage is probably no more than 5% of their overall costs.

This sounds more like an electrical grid that's being maxed out.