Time of Use Meters

Do you know about Time of Use Meters?  These meters are different than your regular electric meters.  They register the time that you use your electricity.  You are charged more for using electricity during peak hours, less during non-peak hours. 

Peak hours change summer and winter.  Right now, we're still in summer, so the highest rates are during the day, when all of the businesses are open, and the a/c is running a mile a minute everywhere.  There is a mid-rate range, in the early evening, when people get home from work, and then there is the low rate range, that hits on weekends and over night.

 

You really have to think before you use something that is going to draw heavily on the electricity, and make certain that you are using your appliances at an intelligent time.  Does it make sense to run the oven during the middle of a 100* day, when the a/c is running?  Not really.  Does it make more sense to run the clothes dryer in the middle of the day, or to hang the clothes outside to dry?

 

We've been using a time of use meter (I think they are called smart meters now) for well over 15 years.  I had one put into our old house, and our overall energy prices dropped dramatically.  When I began using electricity at low demand times, we were rewarded with lower rates.

 

When we moved into this house, we had our meter installed about six months after we moved in.  What a difference the time of use meter made.  In the first month alone, we saved almost $150 in electricity.  As the rates continue to rise, we move more and more of our big electric chores to off peak hours and find that the rate increases are not hitting us as hard as they are hitting our neighbors.

 

So, what do we do differently than we used to?

 

We wash clothes on the weekend.  If they are heavy and won't dry outdoors, they get run through the dryer while the rates are lower.

 

I do have to run a load or two during the week.  I try to run the load last thing at night before I go to bed.  Once I am up and dressed, I run downstairs and pull the clothes out of the washer.  What needs to go on the line to dry goes outdoors.  Some of it will get a quick run through the dryer, but since the load is very small, the time it spends in the dryer is not as long.  Also, since I hit the ground running at 6 am, the rates have not increased to peak rates yet.  It's more expensive than the weekend rates, but it's not the same as the daytime rates.

 

The dishwasher.  Our dishwasher has a time delay.  I will fill the dishwasher at night after we finish dinner, and set the timer for it to start running at 11, when the rates drop again.  Early in the morning, the dishwasher is emptied and ready to receive the new day's dishes.

 

The hot water heater.  I think we all know this one by now.  The hot water heater is expensive to run.  We do keep our thermostat on the water heater set at 120*.  I run the clothes through the washer on cold.  Our dishwasher has an additional water heater, that takes the temperature of the water up higher.  We do use the water heater in the dishwasher.

 

The time of use meter (or smart meter) is a different program than the one that allows the electric company to cycle your a/c on and off in extremely hot weather, where they give you a $15 credit per month.  There is no incentive to use a meter, other than the amount of money you can save.

 

The seasons on my meter are about to change to winter soon.  In winter, the mid-rates are during the middle of the day, and the high rates are first thing in the morning and early evening.  (When people are getting up or coming home and turn their heat up.)  I need to make certain I have the correct times of day for the winter season before long!

 

If your electricity rates are going through the roof, it is worth looking into a time of use meter, and making the lifestyle changes involved in lowering your bills.