How to benefit from off-peak electricity
Most people don’t use the same amount of electricity all day. You probably use the most electricity in the morning and evening, and hardly any overnight.
Because of these common patterns, there are certain times when the total demand on the electric grid is highest. These "peaks" are the most expensive times to use electricity because the utility has to pay more to generate electricity. Peaks also strain the electric transmission and distribution infrastructure. If we avoid them, we can reduce costs for everyone.
There’s an environmental benefit, too. Peaks often occur when renewable energy isn’t available, which means the electricity comes from fossil fuels. Load shifting helps maximize renewable energy generation instead.
Peak utility times are the most expensive—and polluting—times to use power. Reducing your electric use during those times will help everyone save money and reduce emissions.
There are two primary ways to shift power. You can use devices that draw electricity during off-peak hours and use home battery storage.
If you have connected devices in your home or business, you can program them to run during off-peak times. (Check your utility’s website for its off-peak hours.) Certain devices, like WiFi-enabled hot water heaters, heat pumps, and appliances can be programmed to run overnight or to stop using electricity at a certain time of day. For example, you could run the dishwasher or the laundry machine while you’re sleeping. If you have an EV, you can program the charger to only charge during off-peak hours.
Small changes like these have very little impact on your daily routine, but they add up over time to help keep electricity rates lower for everyone. For businesses, the impact—and the potential cost savings—can be even greater.
Some utilities offer discounted “time of use” rates for homes or businesses that help shift energy use to off-peak hours. This creates a win-win for you and your utility. You save money when you use electricity during the cheapest times of day, and the utility avoids costly, carbon-intensive peaks.
See if your utility has incentives for off-peak electricity use
If you live in an area with power outages, you know the benefits of having backup power. Many homeowners and businesses rely on generators to keep the lights on when the power goes out. Now, more Vermonters are turning to newer battery storage options. Home batteries work with or without solar panels to store electricity for when you need it later.
Besides providing electricity during power outages, batteries can help shift the electric load. When your utility forecasts a peak, it can pull electricity from your battery rather than drawing from the grid. If enough homes and businesses do this, the utility could reduce consumption during a peak, saving money for everyone.
Ready to take more control of when you use electricity? Many Vermont utilities offer incentives for homeowners and businesses. Find your utility below and check with them directly for the most up-to-date offers.
- Burlington Electric Department
- Voluntary “Defeat the Peak” program raises money for local nonprofits
- Monthly EV charging credit for charging during off-peak hours
- Green Mountain Power
- Free Level 2 EV charger and charger installation incentive
- Discounted off-peak electric rate for EV charging
- Home battery storage incentives
- Stowe Electric Department
- Monthly incentive for enrolling in the Connected Homes program, which allows the utility to briefly adjust your connected devices during peak events
- Vermont Electric Coop
- Voluntary “Beat the Peak” program
- Free Level 2 EV charger with enrollment in the Energy Transformation program, which shifts the charging load to off-peak times
- If you already own a Level 2 charger, enroll your EV and get an incentive from Efficiency Vermont
- Washington Electric Co-op
- Free Level 2 EV charger and a $500 incentive from Efficiency Vermont with enrollment in the PowerShift program, which shifts the charging load to off-peak times
- If you already own a Level 2 charger, enroll your EV and get an incentive from Efficiency Vermont
