’Twas the Night Before Peak Rates (A Renewable Romp!)
- John Kirkwood
- Dec 1, 2025
- 2 min read
’Twas the night before peak rates, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a Wi-Fi mouse.
The smart plugs were nestled by the fireplace with care,
In hopes that the peak rates wouldn’t make us despair.
The children were snug, dreaming of robots galore,
While visions of solar panels danced on the floor.
And us in our fleece socks, and me in my cap,
Had just sealed the windows to prevent winter’s slap.
When out on the roof there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to the window to see what was the matter.
Away to the battery, I flew like a flash,
And checked the gauge to avoid a grid crash!
The LED lights shimmered, casting a greenish glow,
A beacon for neighbours powered by solar flow.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a tiny smart meter, full of holiday cheer!
With a miniature coil, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment we’d dodged a rate trick.
More busy than beavers, the solar arrays came,
And it winked as it whispered its very clean name:
“Now, Timer! Now, Sensor! Now, Insulation and Plug!
On, Community! On, Co-op! No more energy shrug!
To the top of the gable! To the top of the wall!
Now power them! Power them, power them all!”
As dry leaves that before the winter wind fly,
Every electron gleamed straight from the sky.
So up to the rooftop the clean energy flew,
With photons and savings, all shiny and new.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The panels humming their green-energy proof.
I drew in my head, and turned with delight,
When down the vent came a draft, warm and polite.
It said not a word, just did its hot-air chore,
Heating the whole neighbourhood—but not out of doors.
And laying a finger aside of its nose,
And giving a nod, to the panel it rose!
It sprang to its charger, to our EV gave a toot,
And away it sped with its renewable loot.
But I heard it exclaim, as it drove out of sight,
“Happy Holidays to all, and to all a smart light!”