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| Make the shift and save
Like most utilities, our cost to generate and purchase electricity is highest during the peak hours of the day. To keep costs low for all customers, we provide a price incentive to shift a portion of your power use to off-peak hours. With the Time of Day rate option, you pay a lower rate for electricity used during off-peak hours and a higher rate for power used during on-peak hours. Typical residential customers use about 25 percent of their electricity during on-peak hours. If you use more than 750 kilowatt hours (kWh) a month and think you can shift a portion of your electric use to off-peak times, leaving just 20 percent on-peak, this rate option may be right for you. The more you shift, the more you can save. Call 448-4800 for more information or to sign-up for the program. Good for the community, good for you
All utilities, including Colorado Springs Utilities, must build power plants large enough to supply power during the peak use times of the day. However, sometimes we must buy expensive power on the open market to meet peak demand. Customers can help reduce the need for additional power plants and expensive purchased power, which can help reduce rates for all customers. Two ways customers can help are: - Conserve power during on-peak hours.
- Shift power use to off-peak hours.
On-peak times Winter (October - March): Monday through Friday, 4 to 10 p.m. Summer (April - September): Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Off-peak times All times not indicated above All 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday All 24 hours during the six legally observed holidays: New Year’s Day Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Over the course of a year, there are 1,651 on-peak hours, or about 19 percent of the 8,760 total hours in a year. Standard electric rates $.0701 per kWh plus $.22 per day
Time of Day rate option All customers, including Time of Day rate customers, are charged the Electric Cost Adjustment, which may change monthly. The current ECA is calculated into the rates above. The Time of Day rate option is a voluntary program with a maximum enrollment of 400 customers. Cost savings example: The following example is based on 900kWh in one month. As you can see, the bill is the same on the standard rate no matter when you use the electricity. With the Time of Day rate option, however, the bill changes depending on how much electricity is used during on-peak versus off-peak hours. On-Peak Use Percentage | Standard Rate Total | Time of Day Rate Total | Difference | 26% | $69.69 | $73.11 | +$3.42 | 22% | $69.69 | $69.51 | -$0.18 | 18% | $69.69 | $65.91 | -$3.78 | 14% | $69.69 | $62.31 | -$7.38 |
More information to help you decide if the Time of Day rate option is right for you. Typical residential customers use about 25 percent of their electricity during on-peak hours and about 75 percent during off-peak hours. The purpose of the Time of Day rate is to encourage customers to shift five percent of their use to off-peak hours. That would mean 20 percent on-peak and 80 percent off-peak. Customers that use more than 750 kWh a month may find it easier to shift enough power to off-peak times to benefit from this rate. Under the Time of Day rate, customers who use more than 750 kWh in a month and use 80 percent or more in off-peak times, will see a savings on their bill. Some customers may already use nearly 80 percent of their power during off-peak hours. They may only need to adjust their electric use slightly to benefit from the rate option. Special electric meters will be installed for customers that sign up for the Time of Day rate. Customers must sign up for one year - a minimum of 12 consecutive billing periods. The chart below shows how much electricity is typically used every hour that your appliances are running. Consider whether you can reduce the amount of time that appliances run during on-peak times. Appliances that use large amounts of energy such as your air conditioner, electric clothes dryer, stove/oven and spa provide the greatest potential for savings if their use is shifted to off-peak.
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