How is electricity use measured?
What are the top three electric appliance energy guzzlers?
What is the typical monthly energy use in kwh for common appliances in my home?
What are on-peak and off-peak time periods for summer (May through September)?
What are the Time of Day energy charges per kwh for on-peak and off-peak time periods for summer (May through September)?
Are there any other charges on the Time of Day program?
Why is Rocky Mountain Power offering this option to its customers?
Which holidays are observed on the Time of Day program?
How much electricity does an average customer use on a monthly basis in Utah?
Who will benefit from Rocky Mountain Power's Time of Day program?
If I lower my monthly energy consumption, will that be enough to save money on the Time of Day program?
What reasons would I be denied enrollment on Time of Day?
Why must I have a special meter if I decide to sign up for this option?
When will my service start with this option?  
Why is there a 12-month enrollment period and can I get out before the term has ended?
If I am a participant in the Time of Day program, do I take the special meter when I move?
How will the Time of Day option be presented on my bill?

Q. How is electricity use measured?
A. Electricity is measured in units known as kilowatt-hours (kwh). This is a product of watts and hours. A 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours equals 1,000 watt hours and will register on your meter as one kwh (100 x 10 = 1,000 watt-hours or 1 kwh).

Q. What are the top three electric appliance energy guzzlers?
A. In Utah, customers typically use most of their electricity for air conditioning and refrigerator/freezers. Costs for these two appliances can account for as much as 50 percent of an average customer’s energy use. Electric water heaters can also use a good deal of energy, depending on the number of people in the household and other factors. If you have air conditioning, you may need to turn it off much of the time during on-peak hours of 1 to 8 p.m. to save on the Time of Day program. You can also save energy by setting your electric water heater at 120ºF. See Utah’s average residential electrical usage below.

Q. What is the typical monthly energy use in kwh for common appliances in my home?

Q. What are on-peak and off-peak time periods for summer (May through September)?

Q. What are the Time of Day energy charges per kwh for on-peak and off-peak time periods for summer (May through September)?
A. Customers on Time of Day are billed on basic service Schedule 1 or Schedule 3 rates with adjustments for electricity used during on-peak and off-peak times from May through September. Customers on Time of Day pay 1.4014 cents less than the basic service rate for each kwh of electricity used during off-peak hours, reducing their bill. However, customers on Time of Day also pay 4.3762 cents more than the Schedule 1 or Schedule 3 rate for each kwh of electricity used during on-peak hours. From October through April, the Time of Day off- and on-peak adjustments do not apply.

Q. Are there any other charges on the Time of Day program?
A. The rates listed above are only the on-peak and off-peak adjustments to your basic residential service prices. Taxes and other fees will still be included on your Time of Day bill. See Utah rate Schedule 1 or Schedule 3 for more details.

Q. Why is Rocky Mountain Power offering this option to its customers?
A. Utah customers use most of their electricity in the summer. As the area grows and more customers buy central air conditioners, demand for electricity peaks in the summer, putting a strain on the power system. This makes electricity more precious and more expensive. This program is designed to provide pricing signals to customers when electricity use is at its peak and should be reduced (between 1 and 8 p.m. on weekdays).

At Rocky Mountain Power, we have several programs that are designed to reduce this peak demand. Learn more about our  Cool Cash Incentive,  Cool Keeper and  See ya later, refrigerator programs.

The Time of Day program has been re-designed effective April 1, 2004 with shortened on-peak hours to help customers save money by shifting their usage patterns. To test the effectiveness of this re-designed program, Rocky Mountain Power implemented a participation cap of 1,000 customers, approved by the Utah Public Service Commission. Program participation is on a first-come, first served basis until the cap is reached.

Q. Which holidays are observed on the Time of Day program?
A. Holidays include only New Year's Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Pioneer Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Electricity use on holidays is rated as off-peak all day. All other holidays not listed are billed on the regular Time of Day rate schedule.

Q. How much electricity does an average customer use on a monthly basis in Utah?
A. Rocky Mountain Power’s records show that an average customer's electricity consumption is approximately 700 kwh per month. The amount of electricity you purchase each month is the result of two basic components. The electrical requirements of each appliance in your home (watts) and the length of time you use the appliances (hours). You can reduce your bill by either reducing the wattage of your appliances and/or reducing the number of hours you use each appliance. You may see additional cost savings on the Time of Day program if you can shift the majority of your electricity use to off-peak hours.

Q. Who will benefit from Rocky Mountain Power's Time of Day program?
A. To benefit from Time of Day, most customers would need to limit their on-peak usage – from 1 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday – to less than 24 percent of their total electricity usage in order to save money on this option. Otherwise, you could end up paying more on this option.

Q. If I lower my monthly energy consumption, will that be enough to save money on the Time of Day program?
A. Using energy more efficiently will lower your bill if you remain on the basic service option. However, if you choose the Time of Day program and do not change when you use electricity, you could end up paying more during the months the on- and off-peak price adjustments are in effect – May through September. It's easy to determine if you are saving money on Time of Day by comparing the additional charge for electricity used during on-peak time periods, and the credit for electricity used during off-peak time periods. If the off-peak credit is more than the on-peak charge, you saved money that month.

However, if the additional on-peak charge is more than the off-peak credit, you paid more for service that month. You should be able to easily determine if you saved money each month or if you need to shift more of your usage away from on-peak hours.

Q. What reasons would I be denied enrollment on Time of Day?
A. Customers who have a time-payment agreement in effect on their account, have received two or more final disconnect notices or have been disconnected for non-payment within the last 12 months are not eligible for the program. In addition, customers with meter access problems will be denied eligibility to the program until the issue can be resolved. See tips to help Rocky Mountain Power meter readers safely access your meter. You could also be denied enrollment in the program by signing up after the 1,000 participant cap has been reached.

Q. Why must I have a special meter if I decide to sign up for this option?
A. The meter you have now tracks total kwh usage and does not track the time electricity is used each day. A new meter that collects usage information at intervals throughout the day between May and September is required to bill customers under this option.

Q. When will my service start with this option?
A. Between May and September, billing under the Time of Day program will begin after the Time of Day meter is installed. If the special meter is installed between October to April, you will only see the usual basic service charges on your monthly bill. There may be a delay between the time you request Time of Day service and when your new meter can be installed. However, our goal is to install the special Time of Day meter within a 30-day period after you enroll. We will leave notification on your door when the new meter has been successfully installed.

Q. Why is there a 12-month enrollment period and can I get out before the term has ended?
A. Due to the cost of the special meter and the research nature of this program, we need a 12-month commitment from everyone who decides to participate in the Time of Day program. The only way participants can be released from the program before the end of the term is by moving from your current location.

Q. If I am a participant in the Time of Day program, do I take the special meter when I move?
A. No. If you move, you can re-enroll in the Time of Day program as long as the participation cap has not been met. Please contact Rocky Mountain Power to request the Time of Day program at your new location. However, your 12-month commitment on the program will start over at your new home.

Q. How will the Time of Day option be presented on my bill?
A. After your Time of Day meter has been installed and your meter has been read (from May through September), you will be billed for service. In addition to the usual basic service charges, you will also see two new line items for on-peak and off-peak Time of Day adjustments. You will receive a credit of 1.4014 cents per kwh for all kwh of electricity used during off-peak hours and an additional charge of 4.3762 cents per kwh for the electricity used during on-peak hours. From October through April, you will not see the on- and off-peak adjustments to your monthly bill.