“After getting an email from BEMC about the upcoming switch to a time-based rate structure, I went to the Supply office to find out more about it, and met with Justin Porterfield. He was terrific. He explained the Off-Peak Advantage rate option, and it seemed like a wise idea to me, so I decided to sign up.

I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out, I thought maybe I’d save a few dollars, but it appears to be paying off! I’m saving an average of $37 per month. The key to success is doing a couple of things – having a timer on your water heater and a programmable thermostat for your HVAC system are a few of them. I’ve been doing it manually. I get up early anyway, flip the water heater on for 30 minutes and take a shower, before flipping it off before 6 a.m. I do the same thing with the heat, turn it up a few degrees before 6 a.m., then turn it down from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. But with a timer and a programmable thermostat I won’t have to even think about it, it will just happen!

The other important things I do to make it work are that I run my dishwasher after 10 p.m., and wash my clothes then too. If I start the washing machine around 10 p.m., I’m putting the clothes in the dryer before 11 p.m., and don’t even have to stay up later if I don’t want to.

I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out, I thought maybe I’d save a few dollars, but it appears to be paying off! I’m saving an average of $37 per month.

To be effective, just avoid the on-peak hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (winter hours). You can be successful if you have a timer on your water heater, a programmable thermostat, and you watch when you use other major appliances like the dishwasher and washer and dryer. You just have to be a little thoughtful. Any electricity you use between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is at a huge 43% discount versus the standard residential rate, off-peak pricing is 12% less, and on the weekends, there’s no on-peak pricing. Just off-peak and super-off-peak.

I’ll be using the SmartHub app this year to track my usage and my savings, comparing this year over last, and how I’m doing during on-peak, off-peak and super-off peak times. For a little bit of pre-planning and effort, I expect I’ll be saving quite a bit. I recommend this rate option to anyone who wants even more control over their energy usage and their electric bill. I’m really glad this option is available.”

— JR in Sunset Beach