Shift Electric Use & Save
Avoid peak-demand hours for lower rates.
Time of Use Electric Rate
PSE&G’s Time of Use (TOU) rate can help electric customers save money while also making the power grid more efficient.
What is Time of Use?
The TOU rate provides customers with an opportunity to save money by shifting some of their electric usage to specific times of the day. TOU also helps to lessen the electricity load during peak usage periods to avoid incremental construction on the power grid, which will help reduce future costs for all customers.
How does Time of Use Work?
TOU is a three-tier rate that charges different prices for electricity depending on the time of day that it is used. Electricity used off-peak and mid-peak is charged at lower rates, while electricity used during on-peak hours is charged at a higher rate.
You can try the TOU rate risk free for the first 12 months.
Who might benefit from the TOU rate?
The TOU rate could be particularly beneficial for customers with an electric vehicle (EV), where charging can be scheduled off-peak.
Customers who don’t own an EV could also lower their bills by shifting usage of items like dishwashers, washers and dryers, and swimming pool pumps to off-peak periods. Customers could also shift on-peak air conditioning to mid-peak by utilizing a technique called “pre-cooling.”
The choice is yours. Moving to the new TOU rate is voluntary, and while it may be a good choice from many customers, it may not be the right choice for everyone.
What are the off-peak, mid-peak and on-peak times?
Weekdays
Off-peak hours are overnight from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., on-peak hours are from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and mid-peak hours are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Weekends
Off-peak hours are overnight from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., mid-peak hours are from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. There are no on-peak hours on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Shift Energy Use and Save
Choosing the TOU rate will likely require you to change your behaviors around electric use.
You can save by shifting the use of large electrical items away from the on-peak hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays (except holidays).
These large items include things like:
- EV chargers
- Swimming pool pumps
- Dishwashers
- Washers and dryers
It could also mean raising the thermostat setting on your air conditioning as much as possible during the on-peak hours and utilizing pre-cooling to avoid using air conditioning as much as possible during on-peak hours.
Moving to the TOU rate doesn’t mean you can’t use any power during peak hours. Using the microwave, running smaller appliances, and turning on lights won’t have much of an effect, so you won’t be inconvenienced.
Guaranteed Bill Protection
*NOTE: Current Residential Load Management (RLM) rate customers may switch to the TOU rate. If you do not realize a savings after the first 12 months, we will automatically credit your account for the difference. However, you cannot switch back to RLM at the end of 12 months, you must switch to the RS rate.
