Demand is measured as an average over a 15-minute period, not by the highest moment of electricity use. This means short bursts of electricity, like when an air conditioner or other large appliance starts, have very little impact on your billing demand.
For example, if your home uses 15 kilowatts (kW) continuously for the entire 15-minute period, your billing demand is 15 kW. If that same 15 kW load runs for only 5 minutes during the 15-minute period, your billing demand is only 5 kW because it was used for just one-third of the time.
Remember, billing demand is based on your average electricity use over 15 minutes, not a brief spike in usage.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Time of Use (TOU) rate helps to reduce demand for electricity during peak times of the day by encouraging EV drivers to charge their vehicles when electricity costs less. This reduction in peak energy use helps keep the overall cost of electricity down for the entire co-op, and CCEC can pass those savings on to you, co-op members.
All members on the EV TOU rate will have a basic facilities charge ($30 for single-phase, $57.30 for three-phase). The on-peak demand charge is $11.84 per kW. The on-peak and off-peak energy charge is 4.68¢ per kWh; the super off-peak energy charge is 3.57¢ per kWh. Unlike the standard TOU and solar plus storage TOU rates, the EV TOU rate includes both weekends and holidays.
The EV TOU rate was aligned with the co-op’s cost of purchasing electricity. That's why the Super Off-Peak period applies every day, including weekends and holidays, giving members more opportunities to charge their electric vehicles at lower-cost times.
From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. members on this rate can charge their electric vehicles for 3.57¢ per kWh. The average EV owner that travels 40 miles each day, can charge their EV for less than .82¢ per day on this rate. Your actual savings on the EV TOU rate will be based on how committed you are to shifting your EV charging to super off-peak times.
In addition to adjusting the time that you charge your EV, other small changes in your energy use will save you even more money.
Evaluate what appliances and equipment are your biggest users of electricity. In general, electric devices that heat or cool are the big users. Some of these items include water heaters, air conditioners and heaters, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, hot tubs, saunas, and pool pumps.
Next, decide if you can avoid using these electric devices during the peak periods. Some ways to shift your usage times are:
Use the delay timer setting on your washing machine, dishwasher, and other devices to use them during off-peak times.
Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperatures for on-peak and off-peak hours.
Do your baking and cooking during off-peak times. You will only use a small amount of energy to reheat the meal later.
Timers can make it easy to concentrate your electric usage during off-peak times. Plug-in appliance timers are available for a modest price from most hardware and home improvement stores. They can be used to control room air conditioners or heaters, pool pumps, and even that extra freezer that you open only occasionally.
For hard-wired devices such as a water heater, consult with an electrician or heating and plumbing contractor for installation of a timer. A timer allows the device to only come on during off-peak times. You will need to adjust the timers twice a year to accommodate the winter and summer off-peak times.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative members with an all-electric vehicle that is registered in the co-op’s service territory can enroll in the EV TOU rate.
Give us a call and let us evaluate your usage history and discuss the electric usage patterns in your home. After we analyze your usage, we can make a recommendation. If you decide to enroll, an EV TOU meter will be installed at your home, and the rate will take effect once the meter has been set.
Because of the higher rate for on-peak usage, there is a potential that your costs could increase. You may discontinue the EV TOU rate after 12 months and return to the standard rate. If you choose to come off the rate before the end of 12 months, you will be charged a $20 service fee.
