Beginning Oct. 1, Energy Wise customers will benefit from lower winter on-peak rates, and all customers will see a decrease in fuel costs. Together, these changes can help reduce electric bills heading into the winter months.
Energy Wise rates can help you manage your bill. These rates reward you for shifting some of your electric use to lower-cost hours when demand is lower.
From Oct. 1 through May 31, your account will switch to Energy Wise winter rates.
For residential Energy Wise customers, the winter on-peak rate decreases by nearly 50%.
The off-peak electric rate remains the same year-round.
Compared to the previous flat-rate structure, residential Energy Wise customers pay about 5% less on average during winter months (October through May).
During the hot, summer months, our electric demand peaks, and so do our costs to generate and purchase electricity. This is why on-peak rates are higher in summer and lower in winter.
Off-peak (lowest-cost hours)
Weekdays before 5 p.m. and after 9 p.m. and all day on weekends and most holidays.
On-peak (highest-cost hours)
You can help lower your bill with simple actions like running your dishwasher and doing your laundry before 5 p.m., after 9 p.m. or on weekends.
Also on Oct. 1, we will decrease the electric fuel cost adjustment. This change will lower bills by $1.54 per month for the average residential customer.
Fuel cost adjustments are tied to the cost of fuel and purchasing power. As a not-for-profit, community‑owned utility, we pass fuel cost changes directly to customers.
This decrease is possible because of savings achieved through participation in the Southwest Power Pool, the regional organization that coordinates the flow of electricity across a multi-state region, including Colorado. Our participation in SPP provides access to more energy resources, enhances grid reliability and helps deliver value to customers through increased operational flexibility and efficiency.
Since joining SPP in April, we have achieved about $7 million in savings through June.
When we generate electricity for less than the market price, we can sell excess power to other communities, helping maximize the value of our resources. These savings create value that can be returned to customers through lower fuel costs.