Wishing for a lower energy usage rate? Time-of-Use billing is an option that offers a lower rate for electricity when demand on our system is low, balanced with a higher rate when demand on our system is high.  It gives you the opportunity to save money on your bill by moving your energy consumption to times when demand is low. This billing option is not for everyone, answering these questions may help you determine if you should take the next step in considering it.

• Can you avoid doing laundry, cooking and other high energy-use activities during the week from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., in the winter? 
• Can you avoid doing laundry, cooking and other high energy-use activities during the week from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the summer? 

Those are the times of greatest demand, and with Time-of-Use billing you pay a much higher rate than our standard rate for electricity during those times. The benefit of this rate option is that you pay a lower rate than our standard rate all other times, and a much lower rate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. all year-round. 

• Would you install a timer on your water heater that would keep it from cycling during those hours?
• Would you add a programmable thermostat to your HVAC system that would automatically go up in the summer and down in the winter during those hours?

These devices would go a long way in ensuring you are successful in saving money with the Time-of-Use billing option.