If your home is powered by the utility grid, there are chances you might be worried by high electricity bills. In many states, the average amount you pay for electricity varies depending on the time of day. While standard electricity plans have the same rate regardless of the time of day, TOU (Time of Use) plans have varied electricity costs throughout the day.
Simply put, you pay more for electricity during on-peak hours than off-peak. Peak hours usually occur on weekday evenings, as electricity demand is highest during those hours, and off-peak time typically occurs at midday or night, when electricity demand is relatively low. One way to reduce peak-hour electricity usage is by investing in a whole-home power source like Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus or Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro.
What Are Peak Hours Electricity?
Peak hour electricity is the time of day when the cost of electricity is higher. During peak hours, you'll experience peak pricing, where customers have to pay an additional fee. However, the exact timing and cost you pay for electricity during on-peak hours will vary depending on the specific rate plan and the utility company.
As a reference, here we have included the standard peak hours in different time zones.
Note: These are not the exact timings of peak hours of electricity. If you want to find the exact peak electricity hours for your TOU plan, consider contacting your utility company.
Jackery Solar Generators are robust whole-home battery backups that charge most household or outdoor appliances. For example, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus has a 2042.8Wh capacity to charge 99% of appliances. It's compatible with the Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus to expand the capacity from 2kWh to 24kWh.
What Are Off-Peak Hours Electricity?
Unlike peak or on-peak hours, off-peak hours are when electricity demand and consumption are relatively low. The off-peak rate and hours might vary depending on the location and utility provider. However, off-peak hours are often when the occupants are away from home.
Finding the off-peak hours is easy, as school and working hours are similar among households. Generally, school and working hours typically range between 8 AM and 5 PM, meaning the electricity demand is low during these times. Remember that these off-peak hours are only relevant for weekdays because energy usage will differ on weekends.
Here are the standard off-peak electricity hours for various time zones.
Peak Hours Electricity Vs. Off-Peak Hours Electricity Costs
Your electric bill is charged based on the kilowatt-hour (kWh). According to the TOU rate plans, the utility company charges an additional fee for electricity usage during peak hours. When the demand is low, the electricity will be cheap during off-peak hours.
For example, PG&E offers two time-of-use (TOU) rate plans, E-TOU-C and E-TOU-D. While the on-peak period for the E-TOU-C rate plan is 4:00-9:00 PM every day, the E-TOU-D rate plan offers a shorter on-peak window from 5:00-8:00 PM on weekdays.
The cost of E-TOU-C and E-TOU-D on PG&E will depend on the season, time of the day, and day of the week.
What Are Time of Use Rates and Peak Hours?
Times of Use (TOU) rates fluctuate depending on the peak hours of electricity. Many power companies offer TOU rate plans to residential customers. When there is high pressure on the power grid, it usually costs more to meet the additional electricity demands.
Therefore, customers are advised to decrease their electricity usage during peak hours, thereby reducing the pressure on the grid. But why do utility companies offer Time of Use rates? Well, that's because it costs more to produce electricity during peak hours, so utility companies have introduced TOU rates.
Before you opt for a TOU plan, here are a few factors to remember:
Different Electricity Rate Plans
Most utility companies offer various rate plans, including Time of Use, tiered, solar, and other utility-specific special rates. The best way to determine the right rate plan is to review the options on their website and choose the one that aligns with your needs.
Check Electricity Peak Hours
As mentioned above, the cost of electricity will be higher during peak hours. The exact hours and the price you pay for the peak hours will depend on the utility company. Check the peak hours for electricity rates in your area and reduce usage to avoid paying more.
Change Electricity Usage Habits
If you don't use much electricity during the off-peak hours, check if you can change your habits and take energy-saving steps during the peak hours. For example, you can use heavy-duty appliances like dishwashers, dryers, and washing machines during off-peak hours to minimize the overall electricity bills.
How to Keep Your Electricity Costs Lower During Peak Hours?
There are generally two types of electricity usage: at home and in a business space. Whether you're a business owner or a homeowner planning to reduce energy usage during peak hours, it is vital to follow simple steps.
Tips For Businesses
If you want to reduce business electricity costs during peak hours, here are some tips to follow:
Use Telecommuting: Businesses where employees occasionally work from home can drastically reduce the electricity spent on running the coffee maker, lights, or heating pads.
Unplug Electronics When Not in Use: Always unplug electronics like stereos, lamps, and laptops when they are being used. Even if the appliances are turned off with a button, they might consume electricity and cost you a few extra dollars.
Install Motion Sensors: Motion sensors are designed to automatically switch off the lights when the employees leave for the day. You can even install these sensors in the bathroom to prevent the lights from being on all day when nobody is using these facilities.
Tips For Homes
If you want to keep the electricity usage and energy charges low during the peak hours, here are some tips to check out:
Use Large Appliances at Night: Large home appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, and dryers consume a lot of electricity, which can become costly in the long run. Running large appliances at night when there is low electricity demand helps you reduce the overall electricity consumption.
Turn Off Appliances When Not in Use: Turning off home electronics like lights, computers, and TVs when you leave the room or home will help you save energy charges and electricity usage.
Install a Programmable Thermostat: Your home's heating and cooling systems use a lot of electricity. In order to save electricity, a programmable thermostat lets you set temperatures higher or lower at night or during peak hours.
Here's a table of high-wattage appliances with their minimum, maximum, and standby electricity consumption:
|
Appliances |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Standby |
|
Hair Dryer |
1500W |
/ |
/ |
|
Electric Space Heater |
1500W |
750W |
/ |
|
Window AC |
1800W |
500W |
2W |
|
Garbage Compactor |
1500W |
/ |
5W |
|
Countertop Microwave |
1200W |
600W |
3W |
|
Electric Tea Kettle |
1500W |
/ |
/ |
|
Toaster Oven |
1800W |
800W |
/ |
|
Coffee Maker |
1000W |
/ |
1W |
If you want to reduce or eliminate the high peak hour electricity bills at home or business, consider investing in a solar generator. For example, Jackery Solar Generators are designed to supply continuous electricity to essential appliances during peak hours. You can simply plug in the devices and start charging them anytime.
Jackery Solar Generators for Saving Electricity Costs
Solar generators are one of the powerful ways to reduce the cost of peak hours electricity. Instead of powering appliances by drawing power from the utility grid, you can plug energy-extensive appliances into the solar battery backup to save on electricity costs.
Jackery Solar Generators consist of Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations and Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels to collect, convert, and supply electricity to essential home appliances. They work when sunlight falls on the solar panels and gets converted to DC electricity.
Then, this electricity is passed through the pure sine wave inverter to generate usable AC electricity. You can plug appliances like coffee makers, ACs, refrigerators, or washing machines into the Jackery Explorer Portable Power Stations to start charging them.
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro is a large whole-house portable battery backup with a 3024Wh capacity. It can charge up to 99% of appliances for long hours. The home battery backup has a portable design with pull rods and double wheels to move and charge appliances on the go. The fully upgraded BMS provides all-around safety while charging appliances. You can use the solar generator to charge heavy-duty appliances during the peak hours.
Customer Review
"Easy to set up and use. With the transfer switch, I can quickly use it during an emergency at home, or just take the unit with us when we go camping." — John.
|
Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro |
|
|
Capacity |
3024Wh |
|
Battery Cell |
NMC |
|
Cycle Life |
2000 cycles to 70%+ capacity |
|
Dimension |
Length: 18.6 in (47.3cm) Width: 14.1 in (35.94cm) Height: 14.7 in (37.36cm) |
|
Recharging Methods |
AC Adapter: 2.4 Hours Car Adapter (12V): 35 Hours 6*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels: 3.5 Hours |
|
Output Ports |
AC Output(x1): 120V~ 60Hz 25A Max AC Output(x3): 120V~ 60Hz 20A Max USB-A Output(x2): Quick Charge 3.0x2, 18W Max USB-C Output(x2): 100W Max, 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓3A, 12V⎓3A, 15V⎓3A, 20V⎓5A |
|
Working Hours |
Hair Dryer (1500W): 1.7H Electric Space Heater (1500W): 1.7H Window AC (1800W): 1.4H Garbage Compactor (1500W): 1.7H Countertop Microwave (1200W): 2.1H |
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another home battery backup with a large capacity of 2042.8Wh. The Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Portable Power Station can be charged with 6*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels in only 2 hours. It has a LiFePO4 battery and can be expanded from 2kWh to 24kWh with the additional Jackery Battery Pack 2000 Plus. It can power heavy-duty devices up to 6000W, so you can reduce your high electricity bills. Additionally, expanding the battery capacity to 24kWh supports 2 weeks of home backup.
Customer Review
"Living in the Florida Keys, we have to prepare for hurricanes. Irma put us without electricity for 10 days. Once I gave the equipment a try out for 48 hours, we were happy and felt good about comfortably living through the next bad hurricane." — Steven Holmes.
|
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus |
|
|
Capacity |
2kWh-24kWh |
|
Battery Cell |
LiFePO4 |
|
Cycle Life |
4000 cycles to 70%+ capacity |
|
Dimension |
Length: 14.7in (37.36cm) Width: 18.6in (47.3cm) Height: 14.1in (35.94cm) |
|
Recharging Methods |
AC Adapter: 2 Hours Car Adapter (12V): 25 Hours 6*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels: 2 Hours |
|
Output Ports |
AC Output(×4): 120V~ 60Hz, 20A Max, AC Output(×1)：120V~ 60Hz, 25A Maximum USB-A Output(x2): Quick Charge 3.0, 18W Maximum USB-C Output(x2): 100W Maximum, (5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V up to 5A) |
|
Working Hours |
Hair Dryer (1500W): 1.1H Electric Space Heater (1500W): 1.1H Window AC (1800W): 58 min Garbage Compactor (1500W): 1.1H Countertop Microwave (1200W): 1.4H |
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro has an NMC battery of 2160Wh capacity and a 2200W inverter (4400W surge peak). It can be fully recharged with 6*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels in under 2.5 hours, so you don't want to rely on the utility grid during peak or off-peak hours. The backup battery for home supports 96% of electrical appliances, especially during peak hours. It can last up to 10 years, even if you use the battery backup twice per week.
Customer Review
"Well-made unit, easy to set up and use, very efficient. The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro is able to take care of all my off-grid power needs. The quality is outstanding." — Mark Stewart.
|
|
Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro |
|
Capacity |
2160Wh |
|
Battery Cell |
NMC |
|
Cycle Life |
1000 cycles to 80%+ capacity |
|
Dimension |
Length: 15.1in (38.4cm) Width: 10.5in (26.9cm) Height: 12.1in (30.75cm) |
|
Recharging Methods |
AC Adapter: 2 Hours Car Adapter (12V): 24 Hours 6*Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels: 2.5 Hours |
|
Output Ports |
AC Output(x3): 120V, 60Hz, 2,200W (4,400W Peak) USB-A Output(x2): Quick Charge 3.0, 18W Maximum USB-C Output(x2): 100W Maximum, (5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V up to 5A) |
|
Working Hours |
Hair Dryer (1500W): 1.2H Electric Space Heater (1500W): 1.2H Window AC (1800W): 1H Garbage Compactor (1500W): 1.2H Countertop Microwave (1200W): 1.5H |
Peak Hours Electricity FAQs
What size of solar generator do I need for my house?
The size of a solar generator that can cater to a typical home's needs may vary depending on the appliances you want to charge simultaneously. Generally, a 2000-watt solar generator is an excellent choice for most homes.
Let's take an example:
Suppose you are charging multiple appliances like a TV (100W), washing machine (1200W), and refrigerator (400W) at the same time. If you use the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, the working time will be:
Working Time = Battery Capacity * 0.85 / Wattage Consumption of Appliances = 2042.8Wh * 0.85 / 1700W = 1 Hour.
In this example, we have multiplied the battery capacity by 0.85 as there would be some power loss when charging appliances.
Does electricity cost more during peak hours?
Yes, the electricity demand is high during peak hours, and so is the cost. This means the utility companies have to provide more electricity during those hours, resulting in high energy charges.
What is the cheapest time of day to use electricity?
The cheapest time of day to use electricity is when the supply is higher than the demand. These are generally off-peak hours during the weekend or between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
What are peak and off-peak hours?
Peak hours are during the day when electricity demand is at its highest. On the other hand, off-peak hours are when fewer people use energy-intensive appliances and electricity demand is low.
Final Thoughts
Investing in a well-designed solar system is one of the best ways to reduce the peak hours of electricity usage — or even eliminate the bill altogether. For example, home battery backups like Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus and Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro have a large battery capacity to power appliances during peak hours. You can rely on the whole home solar generator to meet your power needs and avoid buying expensive electricity during peak hours.
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