Time Advantage Rates
Time Advantage is a billing plan where your electricity rate depends on when you use energy – including the time of day, the season, and how much you use at once. Like our standard billing rate, it includes a monthly base charge plus a charge for the energy you use.
One big benefit of Time Advantage is economy pricing periods – evenings, nights and weekends – when electricity demand is usually lower. During these times, rates can be cheaper than the standard plan. These lower-cost periods can cover up to 90% of the hours in a year, giving you more chances to save.
Time Advantage Plans: Two Ways to Save on Electricity
Our Time Advantage plans help you save money by shifting your energy use to times when electricity costs less. You can choose between two plan types – Energy and Demand – based on how you use power at home.
Here’s a quick look at how they compare:
Time Advantage - Energy Rates
How it works: Save by using electricity during lower-cost times – evenings, nights and weekends.
Economy pricing covers ~90% of the year’s hours.
Rates by time:
- Economy Hours: 10.2554¢/kWh
- Winter Peak: 12.2554¢/kWh
- Summer Peak: 30.2554¢/kWh
Monthly base charge: $25
No demand charge
Time Advantage - Demand Rates
How it works: Save by using electricity during low-cost times and by avoiding running many major appliances at once.
Tip: Spread out your appliance use to lower your “demand.”
Rates by time:
- Peak Hours: 25.6092¢/kWh (lower than the Energy Plan’s peak rate)
Monthly base charge: $14.50
Additional demand charge: $1.50 per kilowatt (based on your highest usage point in a billing period)
How to Save Money Using Time Advantage
How to Save in the Summer (June – September)
Summer Rates by Plan:
- Time Advantage – Energy Plan:
- Peak Hours: 30.2554¢/kWh
- Economy Hours: 10.2554¢/kWh
- Time Advantage – Demand Plan:
- Peak Hours: 25.6092¢/kWh
- Economy Hours: 10.2554¢/kWh
- Plus a $1.50/kW demand charge based on your highest usage point
Summer Energy-Saving Tips:
- Set your thermostat to 78–80°F during peak hours
- Pre-cool your home in the morning before 1 p.m.
- Use ceiling or portable fans to stay cool with less AC
- Use timers for your water heater and pool pump
- Avoid running major appliances all at once, especially during peak hours:
- Air conditioner
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Dishwasher
- Pool pump
- For Demand Plan users: Spread out appliance use to avoid high demand charges
Even small changes can add up over time – especially when 90% of the year falls under lower-cost pricing!
How to Save in the Winter (January, February, March, November, December)
In winter, weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. are peak hours – when electricity is more expensive. To lower your bill, shift energy use to before 5 a.m. or after 9 a.m., when prices drop during economy pricing periods.
Winter Rates by Plan:
- Time Advantage – Energy Plan:
- Peak Hours: 12.2554¢/kWh
- Economy Hours: 10.2554¢/kWh
- Time Advantage – Demand Plan:
- Peak Hours: 25.6092¢/kWh
- Economy Hours: 10.6092¢/kWh
- Plus a $1.50/kW demand charge based on your highest usage point
Winter Energy-Saving Tips:
- Run major appliances outside of peak hours (before 5 a.m. or after 9 a.m.) when possible
- Stagger appliance use to avoid creating high demand (especially for Demand Plan users)
- Use programmable thermostats to reduce heating load during peak hours
- If you use electric heat, pre-heat your home just before peak time, then maintain with minimal use
Shifting your energy use even a few hours can make a noticeable difference on your winter bill!
How to Save in Transitional Months (April, May, October)
Transitional months offer the easiest opportunities to save – there are no peak hours during these months. All your electricity is charged at the lower economy rate, all day, every day.
Transitional Month Rates by Plan:
- Time Advantage – Energy Plan:
- All Hours: 10.2554¢/kWh
- Time Advantage – Demand Plan:
- All Hours: 10.6092¢/kWh
- Plus a $1.50/kW demand charge (still applies)
Transitional Months Energy-Saving Tips:
Run major appliances any time without worrying about peak hour pricing
For Demand Plan users: continue to spread out appliance use to manage demand charges
Take advantage of this low-rate period to handle energy-heavy tasks (laundry, deep cleaning, etc.)
Use this time to build energy-saving habits for the higher-cost seasons
Time Advantage FAQs
By changing when you use your electricity to when the Time Advantage rate plan is lower than our standard rate, you could save on your power bill.
Is a Time Advantage rate plan right for me?
If your lifestyle allows you to avoid using electricity during the peak periods, using one of the Time Advantage rate plans may be the right choice for your household. A Time Advantage rate plan will help you take more control over your energy use and help save you money.
What is the best way for me to save money?
The Time Advantage rate plans make it possible for you to save money in two ways:
1. By using electricity in off-peak hours with the Time Advantage-Energy Rate Plan.
2. By not using your major appliances at the same time with the Time Advantage- Demand Rate Plan.
Unlike other rate plans, the Time Advantage rate plans reward you for these choices by offering lower rates.
What can I start doing to benefit from the Time Advantage rate plans?
Once you switch to a Time Advantage rate plan, we strongly encourage you to start managing how you use energy in your home. Here are some ways to do this:
- Look for ways to stop or minimize energy use during the summer peak hours of 1-7 p.m. (Monday – Friday).
- Set your thermostat to 78-80 degrees in the summer during the summer peak hours of 1-7 p.m. (Monday – Friday).
- Use your major appliances (washer, dryer, pool pump, dishwasher) in the mornings, at night and on the weekends.
- Use a programmable thermostat.
- Increase your use of ceiling fans.
- Use a timer on your water heater to prevent it from heating during the summer peak hours of 1-7 p.m. (Monday – Friday).
- Use a timer on your pool pump to turn it off during the summer peak hours of 1-7 p.m. (Monday – Friday).
- Limit the demands you put on your energy by staggering your major appliance use with the Time Advantage – Demand Rate Plan.
What can I do to see additional benefits from the Time Advantage rate plans?
Once you’ve started managing your energy use, there are some additional things you can do to increase your savings:
- Use energy-efficient appliances.
- Increase the insulation in your home.
- Use insulated windows and doors.
- Upgrade your heating and cooling systems to higher-efficiency models.
How much can I save if I switch to one of the Time Advantage rate plans?
By changing when you use your electricity to when the Time Advantage rate plan is lower than our standard rate, you could save on your power bill.
How long do I have to stay under a Time Advantage rate plan?
The service agreement for the Time Advantage rate plans is for a 12-month term; however, you are able to cancel the plan according to our rules and regulations for electric service. If you want to cancel your Time Advantage rate plan before the end of your 12-month term, the electricity you’ve used once the plan is canceled will be billed at the standard rate. If the standard rate amount is higher than the amount you were billed while on the Time Advantage rate plan, you will be expected to pay the difference.
What are peak hours and off-peak or economy hours?
Peak hours:
June 1 – Sept. 30: peak hours are Monday – Friday from 1-7 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST).
Nov. 1 – March 31: peak hours are Monday – Friday from 5-9 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST).
Off-peak hours:
Weekends, holidays and all other hours are considered off-peak or economy hours.
When you’re under a Time Advantage rate plan, all hours on the following holidays are considered off-peak or economy hours: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When any of these holidays fall on a Sunday the following Monday will have economy hours.
How can I save money by controlling demand in my household?
Controlling demand in your household requires you to manage your use of major appliances like the washer, dryer, pool pump and dishwasher. Rather than using them at the same time, you should use no more than two at a time.
If I sign up for the Time Advantage - Demand Rate Plan, when would my demand be reset?
Your meter will be read every month. Once your meter has been read, your demand will be reset. When you receive your bill, check the grey shaded box labeled “Usage Information” on the right side to see when your meter has been read.
How can I know which appliances use the most energy?
To gain a better understanding of where most of our at-home energy use goes, view our chart below to help compare and contrast usage demand per appliance.