Electrical peak and off peak demand
 

I thought the imbalance between electrical peak and off peak demand was a big deal for electric companies. They spend money for extra capacity to cover the peaks, just to have some sit idle all night long. So I contacted my power company to ask about time of use metering if I were to get an elecric car and was surprised to find that they really don't seem to encourage it with any meaningful financial incentive. I would only be going from 500 kWh to 950 with the car. Here is what they wrote back.
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Depending on your electricity usage patterns, your electricity bills may be lower on our Time-of-Use (TOU) Service Classification 1C (SC-1C) rate than on standard residential service (SC-1).

SC-1C customers pay a higher basic service charge—currently $30.00 per billing period—and a lower delivery charge than on standard residential service. However, these customers will pay more per kilowatt-hour for electricity supply used during on-peak periods. In return, they pay lower rates for electricity supply during off-peak periods, when the demand for electricity is lower.

If your monthly usage is greater than 2200 kwh and you have the ability to shift at least 27 percent of your usage to shoulder-peak hours and 65 percent of your usage to the off-season/off-peak hours, you may benefit from this rate.

Information on peak and off-peak hours, for customers on our time of use rate, can be found our website by going to the Your Home tab and clicking on the Guide to bills, meters and rate link and then clicking on the Service Rates link and the clicking on the Residential Option, TOU (SC-1C) and then clicking on the How it works—Explanation of Time-of-Use Hours link.


Sincerely,

National Grid Customer Service

Ever feel like they have stacked the deck against people trying to conserve energy?

MONTHLY?!? :eek: It would take me almost two years to use that much.

Whats a couple of megawatt hours, more or less? ;)

People keep telling me to replace my computer, but I like the dimmer street lights.