The Ontario Energy Board is trying to encourage me to use power outside of peak hours. The power grid isn’t very nimble — it has to generate enough power to cover our maximum potential needs at all times. Think of it like a tap that has to be turned on with a strong enough flow for everyone’s needs, even if it goes unused part of the time. So if some of us can move our usage to late in the day, they’ll need less flow overall. Does that make sense? Here’s an explanation from someone else.
On both summer and winter weekdays, power will be least expensive from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., but in the summer power is most expensive from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., when our air conditioners are on overdrive. In winter, power is most expensive from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., when we’re at home, awake, with the thermostat dialed to “cozy.” Weekends and statutory holidays are at lowest power rates ’round the clock. Here’s a graphic:
Courtesy Ontario Energy Board
Time of use pricing applies whether you’re with a regular energy supplier or a renewable energy supplier such as Bullfrog Power.
So, how can we help reduce our total need for power (the flow rate) and save ourselves some money in the process? Here are a few ideas:
- Take advantage of appliances with timers. Set dishwashers, clothes washers, dryers and more to turn on late in the evening.
- Use a programmable thermostat to allow your home to become fairly cool during winter workdays and fairly hot on summer workdays.
- Shower the night before work. Waiting until after 9 p.m. could save you $0.59 per day in water heating for every half hour in the shower.
- Make meals ahead and split up portions for later. Running the oven for an hour before 9 p.m. costs about double the cost of making meals later.
- Give yourself weeknights off, and save vacuuming, washing clothes and other power-consuming chores for the weekend.
How else might you move your power consumption to later in the day, or to weekends?
