Canadian Niagara Power has made the switch to Time-of-Use (TOU) billing for eligible customers** effective June 1, 2012. Customers can expect their first TOU bill in July 2012 for energy consumption in June.
TOU billing divides a consumer’s electricity consumption into three different time periods; on-peak, mid-peak and off-peak. Each time period has a corresponding rate that will be charged for electricity used during that time. On-peak electricity rates are the highest, off-peak electricity rates are the lowest and mid-peak rates fall somewhere in between. While weekends and holidays are always off-peak, TOU periods for weekdays change seasonally. For more information about the current TOU time periods and rates, click the link below:
Take a few minutes to look at the timing of your energy use at home or at your business. With TOU billing, small changes to daily routines can make a big impact. For example, running high-energy appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and dryers after 7 pm instead of earlier in the day shifts consumption from on-peak and mid-peak periods to an off-peak TOU period resulting in lower charges on your bill.
To learn more about Time-of-Use rates, strategies for managing your costs and smart meters visit the Ontario Energy Board website. You can also view frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) on this website.
Time-of-Use Tips and Resources
Business Customers
Look for new ways to take control of your electricity use:
review all the new energy conservation programs designed specifically for commercial customers to help reduce energy consumption and energy costs at this website
turn equipment down or off when it is not needed. This means you only pay for what you use
see if there are ways you can shift energy-intensive activities to Off-peak hours; prices are lowest on weekdays between 7 pm and 7 am and all day on weekends and holidays
maintain and update equipment and lighting; you can get more from your energy dollar by properly maintaining your existing equipment and switching to more energy efficient options
monitor your energy use from bill to bill to best manage your electricity costs
**Customers who have signed an electricity contract with an Electricity Retailer will continue to pay the rates specified in their contract.
**Customers who are classified as General Service > 50 kW and Large Users > 5 MW will not be affected by TOU rates.
