Utility Rate Analysis
A review of all available electricity rate plans from your utility to find the tariff structure that minimizes your bill given your usage patterns, solar production, and battery storage.
Why It Matters
Choosing the wrong rate plan can cost hundreds per year. Time-of-use rates benefit solar owners but penalize peak evening users without batteries.
Related Tools
Related Terms
Time-of-Use (TOU) Rate
An electricity pricing structure where rates vary by time of day. Peak hours (usually 4-9 PM) have higher rates.
Tiered Rate
An electricity pricing structure where the per-kWh rate increases as you use more power within a billing period, divided into usage tiers (e.g., Tier 1: 0-500 kWh, Tier 2: 501-1000 kWh).
Flat Rate
An electricity pricing structure where the same per-kWh rate applies regardless of usage amount or time of day. Simpler but less common than tiered or TOU rates.
Real-Time Pricing
An electricity rate structure where the price per kWh changes hourly based on wholesale market conditions. Offered by some utilities in deregulated markets.