Save With Residential Time-of-Use
Our Time-Of-Use (TOU) program will encourage residential members to reduce electricity use during peak hours. Under the program, you will be charged for electricity depending on when you use it. The rates are lowest on off-peak periods, when usage and the cost of electricity are low. Rates are higher during other periods, when usage and the cost of generating electricity are much higher.
Time-Of-Use Rate effective June 1, 2024.
Energy-conscious members can save money if you use electricity during off-peak periods when costs are lower. During a one year period, 56 REMC members used the rate in a pilot program. Here is what some of them said about the program:
- “The TOU program has made us much more aware of our energy use and provides the opportunity for significant savings by simply changing our habits.”
- “The TOU program made us more aware of how we use energy and I think that’s always a good thing–not only for our budget, but for BCREMC as a whole.”
- “Thank you for the ability to allow us to save!”
What You Can Do To Save!
- Use automatic timers to avoid running appliances such as water heaters, pool pumps, hot tubs, de-humidifiers, etc. during peak times.
- Install a programmable thermostat(s) to automatically adjust the temperature during peak times. Install a programmable thermostat(s) to automatically adjust the temperature during peak times.
- Plug computers, printers and televisions into power strips and turn off at the switch when not in use.
- Wash and dry clothes off-peak
- Avoid running the dishwasher during peak times. Remember not to start it close to a peak time as well.
- Move oven use to off peak hours or use a crock pot or microwave instead.
To learn more about this service, call Bartholomew County REMC at (812) 372-2546, or email us for further details. To enroll in the program, fill out the Sign-Up Form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our TOU rate is based on the time of day you use electricity and out cost of supplying electricity to you during that time. If you use electricity when the total electric used by our members is low (off-peak) your rate will be lower that the standard rate. On-peak hours, or electricity used during periods of high demand, will cost more than the standard rate.
The rates provide you with a choice to lower your electricity costs without reducing the total amount of electricity you use. By shifting electricity usage off-peak, we can avoid the need to purchase high priced power from other sources and also prevent the need for additional power plants. Off-peak usage allows our current facilities to operate more efficiently and economically, further reducing the cost of electricity that we can pass onto our members.
Since our AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) logs hourly electricity use, your bill will show two different rates. One for off-peak kwh used and one for on-peak kwh used. The combined total will be your energy charge amount. The more usage your shift to off-peak periods, the lower your energy bill.
The dollar amount that you may potentially save varies among members. The more electricity you shift to off-peak times, the more money you save. A group of 56 members have already tried out this rate for a year.
The average reported savings over the standard rate during the pilot program were:
- Electric heated homes: 10% savings
- Gas heated homes: 7% savings
- Geothermal heated homes: 11% savings.
The TOU rate was designed to offer savings to members that use 75% or more of their total electricity usage off peak.
- Summer Period (June, July, August) On-Peak: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Off-peak: All other times including weekends and holidays*.
- Winter Period (December, January, February) On-Peak: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Off peak: All other times including weekends and holidays*. *Off peak Holidays: New Year’s Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day.
This rate is designed to come out the same as the standard rate if you do nothing to change your usage. However, there is a lot of opportunity to save. To save money on this rate, you will most likely be required to make adjustments in your daily electricity use during peak times. Making some small changes will increase your savings.
Time-of-use rates are significantly lower than standard electric rates during off-peak hours. However, when a TOU customer uses electricity during peak hours, they are charged a rate higher than standard electric rates. This reflects the true cost of power when it is being used.
Switching to the TOU rate is easy and free of charge. However, you may want to purchase products that allow you to automatically reduce usage during peak times such as timers and a programmable thermostat.
Optional time-of-use customers can transfer back to a standard residential service rate after 1 full year on time-of-use billing.