Time-of-Use

Looking for a way to reduce your energy costs? Consider switching to DMEA’s time-of-use (TOU) rate. Under this special rate, members who shift their electricity use to off-peak hours can save money on their bill.

On-peak hours are times of the day when demand for electricity is at its highest—like evening hours when you are home from work, children are home from school, and everyone is using energy to make dinner, watch television, and do homework. Since demand is high, the price of electricity is also higher during on-peak hours.

In contrast, off-peak hours are times of the day when demand for electricity is lower, such as the sleeping hours. And since demand for electricity is lower, the price is also lower.

If you can shift the majority of your electricity-intensive tasks to off peak hours you can most likely save money on this rate. You’ll need to postpone tasks, such as washing clothes, running motors, or running the dishwasher, so we encourage TOU members to install timers on appliances, water heaters, and heating equipment to achieve greater savings. Timers are available from your local electrician, electrical supplier, or hardware store. 

For more information on DMEA's time-of-use rate or to sign up, call 1-877-687-3632.