The TOD rate charges a premium for electricity during periods of high demand on the electrical system, and offers a discount rate during off-peak hours. TOD allows the customer the choice of when to use electricity to do everyday tasks. The rate incentive encourages the customer to do their tasks, such as water heating, laundry, cooking, etc., during the off-peak, lower rate periods, with the reward being a lower monthly electric bill.
What are the rates and times they apply?
The rate starts with a fixed charge of $22.00 per month ($1.00 per month more than our regular monthly rate). For electricity used during the peak periods of 6:30-9:30 AM and 5:30-8:30 PM the rate is $.1525 per kilowatt hour. For all other times of the day, the off-peak times, the rate is $.038 per kilowatt hour. Compare that to the regular monthly rate of $.072 per kilowatt hour.
How do I know if the TOD rate will benefit me? We have a form you can use that requires you to read your meter four times a day for several days, compute your use, and calculate your bill. This will give you an idea of how your bill will be affected before you take any steps at reducing your electric use during the peak times.
How can I reduce my electric use during peak times? The beauty of the TOD rate is that it allows you as the customer to choose when you use the electricity and how you control your usage. You can manually turn off any or all appliances, lights, etc. throughout your home, farm or business. However, the most efficient and effective reduction will be achieved through daily control of your major appliances by using devices such as time clocks to automatically turn the power off to the appliance. Electric water heaters, electric heaters, and clothes dryers are just some of the items you may select to automatically turn off during the peak periods.
Is there a special meter to measure and record my usage for the TOD rate? Yes. The meters cost about $250 each. Taylor Electric will purchase, own and supply these meters for any customer who wants to go on TOD. The meter is an electronic digital meter and is highly accurate. It will provide usage figures for the peak and off-peak periods. It can also provide reports of the usage data on day-by-day, hour-by-hour, or shorter time frames, as well as other useful information such as outages and power quality.
I have a radio receiver on my electric water heater and get a $3.00 per month credit on my electric bill now. Can I still get this with TOD? No. An electric water heater is one of the largest users of electricity in the home, if not the largest user. Most likely you will want the water heater to be turned off during the six hours of peak use. The radio receiver does not control the water heater during these peak hours each day. A timeclock or digital timer of some sort will be more useful and assure that the water heater is off during the three hour morning and evening peaks. Keep in mind that these time clocks are your responsibility to reset at daylight savings time changes and after power outages.
I have electric heat with a second meter for which I am billed at the reduced electric heat rate. How will this work with TOD? TOD becomes a whole house (or farm, business, etc.) system if you elect this rate. If you have a second meter for electric heat, your options will vary depending on whether it is submetered or direct metered. If you have submetered electric heat (where the kilowatts used also go through your main meter and have to be subtracted each month), the heat meter can either be left in or removed. However, your TOD meter (main meter) will be the only readings used for your monthly bill. In this case, if you want the heat meter left in for you to watch your heat usage, there will be $1.00 per month fee for the meter. There may be several options if you have direct-metered electric heat (where the electric heat usage is only recorded by one meter, does not go on the main meter). You could keep the electric heat metered and controlled as it now is, and have the TOD for the rest of your electric use. Or, if there is a way to connect the electric heat onto the main meter, it could all be metered by the TOD meter. Under our current electric heat control strategy, electric heat is subject to winter control on peak usage days, or in emergencies, for extended periods that may last six hours or more. With TOD, you would probably want to turn the heat off during both the morning and evening peak hours, every day. Our employees will help explain all your options for electric heat if you elect to go on TOD.
What will it cost me to go on the TOD rate? Initially, there will be no charge to have a TOD meter installed. We will also offer timeclocks, relays, and devices to help you turn off appliances during the peak hours. There are fees to purchase these items and for installation.
Can I switch between TOD and the regular monthly rate? Yes, but once you go on the TOD rate, there will be a $35.00 fee to switch rates again. The fee will be charged after the initial installation because switching will require a trip to remove one meter and install another.
Call today, if you would like more information or want to be put on the installation list.
