Time-of-Use Savings
An Optional Rate for Customers in Michigan
You can save as much as 15 percent per month on your electric bill by using high-demand equipment during the times of day when there's low demand for electricity.
Electricity is most expensive to produce during the hours of peak usage — times on weekdays that generally correspond with business hours. When you select a Time-of-Use option to use a greater amount of electricity during hours when power is less costly to produce, we pass along the savings to you. You don't have to reduce the amount of electricity you use. What's important is the time of day you use it.
Because Time-of-Use savings hours are in effect 73 percent of the time, some commercial and industrial customers have found that they can save money by simply adjusting when they perform some electric operations, such as trash compacting, laundry, cleaning, dish washing, screen printing, and kiln firing.
Compare the rate you currently pay with the following Time-of-Use rates:
| Regular Customer Rate | |
|---|---|
| $0.09306 per kWh | for Rural Customers |
| $0.08925 per kWh | for Urban Customers |
| Time-of-Use Savings Rates | |
|---|---|
| $0.04871 per kWh | Rate for Rural Customers during Time-of Use electric savings hours |
| $0.04955 per kWh | Rate for Urban Customers during Time-of-Use electric savings hours |
| $0.19484 per kWh | Time-of-Use rate for Rural Customers during peak usage hours |
| $0.19821 per kWh | Time-of-Use rate for Urban Customers during peak usage hours |
Time-of-Use Electric Savings Options
There is a Time-of-Use electric savings option to meet your needs and hours of operation. Choose one of the three convenient savings schedules listed below and you'll pay the Time-of-Use Saving Rates during those hours.
| Option 1 | Option 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer: (May-Sept.) |
7 p.m. - 9 a.m. | 8 p.m. - 10 a.m. |
| Winter: (Oct.-April) |
Noon - 4 p.m. & 9 p.m. - 8 a.m. |
Noon - 4 p.m. & 10 p.m. - 9 a.m. |
Remember, Saturdays, Sundays and major holidays are around-the-clock savings days.
Holidays include New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day (Day Observed), Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday following Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day.
If the holiday falls on Sunday, then Monday becomes a savings day. If the holiday falls on Saturday, then there will be no alternate savings day.
Time-of-Use Agreement
Each month, you pay a Customer Charge that covers fixed costs associated with billing and service. Under Time-of-Use, your monthly Customer Charge will include an additional $2 charge for special metering costs associated with Time-of-Use service.
When you apply for Time-of-Use, a WPS representative will replace your existing meter with a special meter that measures the electricity you use during Time-of-Use savings hours and peak-usage hours.
We ask that new Time-of-Use customers commit to the program for a minimum of one year. Customers who leave the Time-of-Use program are not eligible to reinstate Time-of-Use for one year.
Who Saves the Most with Time-of-Use?
If less than 35 percent of your business's electricity use occurs during peak electric hours, you'll save money with Time-of-Use. Your savings will grow as you increase the amount of electricity used during Time-of-Use savings hours instead of during the more costly peak use hours.
If you use auxiliary lighting, refrigeration, coolers or an electric water heater larger than 40 gallons, you can see significant savings with Time-of-Use. Use either manual or automatic timing to limit operation during peak electric hours.
If you shift trash compacting, laundry, cleaning, dishwashing, screen printing or kiln firing to electric savings hours, you can save money with Time-of-Use.
Timer Controls Make It Even Easier
Timer controls make it easier to switch your electricity to use Time-of-Use savings hours. Plug-in timers, found at local hardware, discount or home improvement stores, can help control smaller appliances. Hard-wired timers can control major electric equipment, including water heaters, electric heaters, central air conditioners, refrigeration, and pool or spa heaters.
WPS offers a hard-wired timer control called a Peak Interrupter. This control allows equipment to operate only during lower-priced Time-of-Use savings hours and not during higher-priced peak hours. It has an override switch so you can bypass the timer if needed.
A Peak Interrupter can be installed for your business. There is a fee involved, but with an average monthly Time-of-Use savings of 15%, the timer should pay for itself in just a few months.
Sign Up Now
You can sign up for Time-of-Use online or by calling us toll-free at 877-444-0888.