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Is it true that electricity is cheaper at night or during off-peak times?
- Thread starter Eli
- Start date
I don't think they can. Here in FL at least, my electric bill has a price for the first X KWh = A and above that amount used = Price B. Too lazy to look right now. But there is no distinguishment between daytime and nighttime energy costs.
Some places have different metering systems, so, perhaps perhaps the box keeps track of the time and a running total from 8-5 and outside those hours. I don't think that would be very difficult to do, just expensive to implement.
NOTE: FL has a energy saver program, you get a BOX and they connect it to A/C and Waterheater. If they are running low on power they can turn off your A/C and Waterheater remotely. You save a few $$$ on your electricbill each monthy you participate in this program. [whether or not they turn it off you save the $$$]. There's actually 2 levels of participation, one shuts them off for 15minutes up per hour and the other is a longer outage but you save more $$$. I've signed up for the 15minute plan, I can go w/o A/C for that long, but, to be without ac for a few hours would suck and the difference wasn't enough to suffer for.
stonecold3169
Platinum Member
It's definitely true. At work we have a completely battery controlled walk-behind pallet lifter. If we charge it durning the day it costs us !$15 or so. At night it costs us just under a buck.
This is a fact. However, most electric companies do not pass those rate differences on to the consumer by stating a different charge per electric unit, based on the time of day. Most electric companies just charge a rate that is averaged.
Essentially, electricity is a commodity, just like oil, orange juice, etc. (think of that scene in trading places with Eddie Murphy).
Most local electric companies are not capable of producing all of the PEAK electricity that their grid needs. So, durring PEAK usage when business are geared up, the local electric company, in order to satisfy demand, has to purchase electricity. They purchase from places like the Tenessee Valley or say, Niagra Falls (as an example). Well, the price of this purchased electricity is higher than the price of electricity that your electric company can generate locally. Thus, electricity durring the day will cost them more than electricity at night.
What consumers can do to help, is to reduce daytime usage so that the local electric company doesn't have to purchase as much electricity from other sources.
They probably also make the most money from businesses, so jcking up prices during business hours (ie: not evening/night) they can make more money. Home consumers probably use less energy than the businesses, so they make the electric companies less money really.
In the UK it's like that with phone charges, 8 until 6 is "peak" times and calls cost more, evenings and weekend they're much cheaper, because businesses make a lot of the money for service comapnies like electricity/telecoms.
In the UK it's like that with phone charges, 8 until 6 is "peak" times and calls cost more, evenings and weekend they're much cheaper, because businesses make a lot of the money for service comapnies like electricity/telecoms.
This is a local thing. There are a few areas in the US that have "time of day" electric meters. They keep track of electricity used during peak and non-peak times. About 10 years ago, a lot of people were predicted this would have spread to all parts of the US by now - but it hasn't taken off at all. There just isn't enough of a power crunch to make it necessary.
There are some other similar systems. Many utilities promote heat pumps or similar devices to even out the night/day and summer/winter demand cycles. They do this by install two different meters, one high rate and one low rate. There are also "interruptible" meters for devices like air conditioners so the utility can remotely interrupt the service to non-essential devices during high demand or low supply periods.
There are some other similar systems. Many utilities promote heat pumps or similar devices to even out the night/day and summer/winter demand cycles. They do this by install two different meters, one high rate and one low rate. There are also "interruptible" meters for devices like air conditioners so the utility can remotely interrupt the service to non-essential devices during high demand or low supply periods.
The current through the meter depends on electricity usage because voltage is nominally ~120V. But at night, when demand is less and the power generating stations haven't completely compensated for the drop the voltage goes up, therefore current goes down to maintain the same power usage. Or something like that.
imported_Mike
Lifer
If your talking about CA, which is in the energy hole. With those comericals, its just they dont want you to do wash and run your AC at the same time. They figure after 7 pm is when all the ACs get turned off.
Here in VA (and in NC), it doesn't matter for residential use. Although, you can save "per kWh" by using one of the "interruptible plans" for your heat pump.
However, it IS true for things other than 120V... I know both 208V (3phase) and 505V (3phase) have a MUCH higher cost between 8 to 5. When we used to do boiler tests at the company i used to work for, we frequently stayed overnight to conduct them--because the power was 4 times cheaper. Of course, we're also talking close to 20,000 kWh in a single hour. 🙂
However, it IS true for things other than 120V... I know both 208V (3phase) and 505V (3phase) have a MUCH higher cost between 8 to 5. When we used to do boiler tests at the company i used to work for, we frequently stayed overnight to conduct them--because the power was 4 times cheaper. Of course, we're also talking close to 20,000 kWh in a single hour. 🙂
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