Electric Company peak hours?

[budgetmom]

I have heard that some people run their dishwashers and washers and dryers at a certian time of the day because the electric company charges more during peak usage hours. Is this really true or is it just a myth?

[geneandmegan]

I'd heard this too. No idea if there's any truth to it though. Love to hear what people have to say. Great question!

[Ima saver]

I have heard that too, but I don't think our elec. company offers anything like that. We are run by blue Ridge Mt. EMC. Some parts of this area did not get electricity until the mid 50's!

[JanH]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I have heard that too, but I don't think our elec. company offers anything like that. We are run by blue Ridge Mt. EMC. Some parts of this area did not get electricity until the mid 50's!

My father in Tenn. didn't get electricity until high school...late forties or early fifties! My mother in law often runs her dishwasher at night after she goes to bed. Always wondered......

[geojen]

Let me ask my dad. He runs an coal powered electric plant. He would probably know. I'll get back to ya'll.

[Bookie]

It's an option offered by some utilities to encourage consumers to concentrate their power usage in timeslots of lower overall demand. See last paragraph here

[budgetmom]

Thanks for the info! I was hoping it was true. Now I'm hopeing that my electric company participates in such programs.

[Ima saver]

I would think it would be the bigger companies in bigger cities!

[budgetmom]

I'm not sure about other places, but I just found out that mine does. I talked with them and they directed me to the area on their web site for the rate details. It's a little confusing to me. The rep. told me that it may end up costing more to do it this way, it would just depend on your lifestyle. This is what it said:

Time-of-Use Rates
Note: Determination of On-Peak/Off-Peak kWh:
The On-Peak hours upon which the On-Peak Energy Charge is based shall be the hours from 3:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., for the months of May through October, from 6:00 a.m. through 8:00 a.m., and from 3:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m., for the months of November through April. All other hours shall be classified as Off-Peak hours.
Customer Charge
$12.00 per meter

Energy Charge
May-October
$0.10600 per on-peak kWh
$0.05561 per off-peak kWh

November-April
$0.10600 per on-peak kWh
$0.05561 per off-peak kWh


and this is the current rate plan:

Residential
Applicable for domestic uses associated with the operation of a single family or multi-family residential installation. Residential rates are based on actual cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) and actual electricity used.
Customer Charge
$10.00 per meter

Energy Charge
May-October
$0.07854 per kWh

November-April
$0.07854 per kWh - First 700 kWh
$0.067810 per kWh- Additional kWh

So I'm not really sure how that all would work out. Maybe I should ask someone a little smarter than I am, LOL.