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TIME-OF-USE

Time-of-Use Electricity: Calculate Off-Peak Savings

BillMellow editorial · Updated October 25, 2026

Some plans charge different energy prices by hour, season, weekday or weekend. The schedule in your actual tariff determines what applies.

Compare the same energy

If 6 kWh moves from $0.30/kWh to $0.15/kWh, the energy charge falls by $0.90 for that use. Over 30 uses, that is $27. These are illustrative inputs, not a rate quote.

Check the whole plan

A tariff switch can change other charges, credits and peak-hour costs. Savings from one appliance do not prove a different plan will reduce your whole bill.

Use our comparison

Choose “Shift & save” and enter the amount of energy you can move and both prices from your tariff. Keep appliance operating instructions and household safety needs in mind when choosing a schedule.

Source: OpenEI tariff structures and schedules

What counts as off-peak electricity?

Off-peak means the lower-priced hours specified by your plan. The schedule can depend on the season, day of the week or holiday. There is no single off-peak window that applies to every US household. Read your provider’s current schedule before moving appliance use.

How to calculate a time-shifting comparison

  1. Estimate the kWh you can move each day. Use measured energy for a load when possible.
  2. Enter the current and new prices in dollars per kWh. For example, 30 cents means $0.30, not $30.
  3. Choose how many days the change applies. A daily estimate used for 30 days is different from a weekly task performed four times.
  4. Multiply moved kWh × days × (current rate − new rate). A negative result means the proposed time costs more.

Example: changing the hour, not the energy

Moving 6 kWh per day from an illustrative $0.30 rate to $0.15 saves $0.90 per day, or $27 over 30 days. That is a comparison of variable energy charges. The device still uses the same 6 kWh in this example. Running it for longer or moving only some of the load changes the result.

Before switching plans

A time-of-use plan can make some hours more expensive while reducing others. Compare the pattern of your whole household’s consumption with both schedules. Fixed fees, demand charges, tier limits and credits can change the final outcome. BillMellow’s two-rate tool does not reproduce these interactions or predict a complete tariff switch.

Open the time-of-use savings calculator. Use rates from your own plan and choose an operating schedule consistent with the appliance instructions.

Keep exploring

Compare rates, monthly fees and bill credits before switching plans.

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