A utility has different power loads that feed into the energy grid. Baseload power is the most reliable energy source that meets the minimum demand, there is also a peak load that meets spikes in energy demand. Natural gas is often used to meet the energy demand spikes because it does not take long to be ramped up, meaning it can burn quickly to create energy. On demand peak electricity is more expensive and only used during energy consumption spikes to help the baseload provide energy to customers.
Morning’s are generally high energy times when everyone is getting up and ready for work, school, or just beginning the day. A lot of people will be using energy from the utility grid when they crank up the blow dryer or start making breakfast. This spike in energy demand cannot quickly be met by burning more baseload fuel like coal or wood because those sources take a while to create energy. So, peak energy sources come to the rescue.
Santee Cooper offers a Residential Time of Use program. The program works around peak energy during the day. A participating customer will receive the rate of 6.09 cents per kWh used during offpeak times. During onpeak times, a customer will be charged 29.49 cents per kWh used in the winter months and 32.77 cents per kWh in the summer months. The goal is to not use any energy during the onpeak hours of the day and try to move your energy usage schedule around the offpeak hours. Onpeak hours in the summer are between 1:00pm-7:00pm “Monday through Friday, for the months of June, July, August, and September, excluding Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.” In the winter months, onpeak hours are between “6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, for the months of December, January, and February, excluding Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. ” Anytime falling outside of the onpeak hours are considered offpeak and will receive the discounted rate.
By using energy during offpeak hour, baseload spikes are not as dramatic and the more expensive peak load energy sources are not needed as much. By moving ones schedule around offpeak energy hours, utility bill savings could be around 50% considering the average rate per kWh in South Carolina as of 2016 is 11.90 cents per kWh.
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