Lowest daytime rates in Texas*.
Yee-haw.
Our PowerShift time-of-use plans offer you the lowest daytime electricity rates in Texas. By making a few simple changes on your consumption, say hello to savings.
*Pricing as of July 21, 2023, in CNP, postpaid plans only with 12-month term. You can obtain important standardized information that will allow you to compare this product with other offers. Daytime hours defined as 9am-6pm, CST.
You can
save money.
By shifting the time of your energy consumption, you could save money. Simple as that.
The power has
shifted to you.
You’ll know exactly what, when, and why you’re paying what you’re paying. You’ll love the control and transparency.
Help the
grid out.
Shifted demand to off-peak hours can help prevent blackouts, ensuring grid stability.
Positively impact
the planet.
In off-peak hours, you use more power that is usually supplied by a higher percentage of green energy.
Time-of-use plans 101
Time-of-use plans charge different rates for energy during different periods throughout the day, which gives you the ability to shift your energy consumption into the periods of the day with lower energy rates. Shifting your energy consumption can help save you money, help alleviate grid pressure, and help the planet.
When to reduce your usage
On-peak: High-demand time when electricity costs more. Shift usage outside this window based on your plan's structure (morning, evening, or both) to save money.
Seasonal on-peak: Seasonally high-demand time when electricity costs more, like winter mornings when people are heating their homes. Limit heavy appliance usage and reduce AC/heat (especially electric) during this period.
When you can go nuts
Off-peak: Low-demand time when electricity costs less. You’re encouraged to use electricity-heavy items during this period for cost savings, environmental benefits, and grid efficiency.
Ultra off-peak: Cheapest-priced period with lowest electricity demand, usually overnight. Utilize this time to charge your EV, use AC, or heat your space.
Is a time-of-use plan
right for you?
Short answer: We think so.
Long answer: If you’re able to make a few changes in your day-to-day, you can save a lot of money with a time-of-use plan. Also meaning that if you don’t make a few changes in your day-to-day, this plan may not be for you. And that’s perfectly fine.
Are you willing to make a few changes to save money?
Then our PowerShift 12 Plan gives you the power to do just that. This plan is ideal for people who are always looking to save money and are willing to make a few small changes to get them there. Each day, they might manually turn up their AC up a few degrees when they get home from work and do laundry later in the evening to avoid on-peak pricing.
Do you want to charge your electric vehicle cheaply?
Then our PowerShift EV 12 Plan can put you on the road to savings. This plan is ideal for EV owners who are flexible with their charging schedule. If you’re someone who has a habit of charging your car right when you get home from work, but aren’t married to that time, you can save a lot of money by shifting your power to the overnight hours. (If you’re already doing this, then this plan would be perfect.)
Don’t mind a touch of complexity to save even more?
Then our PowerShift Seasonal 12 Plan can deliver some cool savings to your wallet. This plan is ideal for those who don’t mind shifting their electricity usage of big energy suckers—AC, washer/dryer, dishwasher, electric heat—to off-peak hours—which are the lowest rates we offer on our time-of-use plans. They also don’t mind an added layer of on-peak hours during the winter months (January, February and March) when demand and prices are higher.
Super tech-savvy and looking to save the most?
Then our PowerShift EV Seasonal 12 Plan gives you the mechanics to save money. This plan is ideal for those who live in a home where everything is connected to their phone—meaning you can schedule your pool pump, EV charger, dishwasher, and laundry with your phone to avoid on-peak pricing. Transparently, this plan is complex, but that shouldn’t be a problem for someone who’s a digital wizard.
7 simple ways to conserve your power
No matter which plan you pick—or even if you don’t pick one—reducing electricity consumption is always a bright idea.
It’s all about balance. Set thermostats 4 degrees warmer in the afternoon and evenings. And use ceiling fans which can make it feel 5 degrees cooler. It’s all about balance.
Follow the 4x4 rule. If nobody’s going to be home for more than 4 hours, set the temperature in your home 4 degrees warmer. Then turn it down when you get home.
Hold off on the wash. Wait ‘til the nighttime to wash clothes and dishes. Unless it’s an emergency, which we get.
Blinds are your pals. Keep them closed in the up position so light can get in. Oh, and thermal and blackout curtains are always a good idea.
LEDs are also your pals. LED lights are more energy efficient than your traditional bulb. They also last longer, which will also save you money in the long run.
Fill in the cracks. Look around your house—especially older ones—for gaps around doors, windows, and such. Fill them in with caulk if need be.
Pool owner? First of all, jealous. Second of all, set your pool pumps to overnight and definitely never run them in the afternoon/evenings.
How can I tweak my habits at home?
AC and heating
Program your thermostat and adjust temps around peak pricing times. Three degrees up/down should do it.
Large appliances
Do your best to avoid running your dishwasher and doing the laundry during on-peak hours to shrink your costs.
Pool pump
If you have a pool pump, avoid running it during the evening hours to avoid higher costs.
EVs
Charge your electric vehicle overnight for low, low rates, and you'll be in the driver's seat to save big.
FAQ
PowerShift 12: On-peak: 6pm-10pm, Off-peak: All other hours
PowerShift EV 12: On-peak: 6pm-10pm, Ultra off-peak: Midnight-6am, Off-peak: All other hours
PowerShift Seasonal 12: On-peak: 6pm-10pm, Seasonal on-peak: 6am-9am (January, February, March only), Off-peak: All other hours
PowerShift EV Seasonal 12: On-peak: 6pm-10pm, Seasonal on-peak: 6am-9am (January, February, March only), Ultra off-peak: 12am-6am, Off-peak: All other hours
At their core, time-of-use plans are fueled by time, and more specifically, the ability to manage and predict energy usage during specific moments in time. Plans like these charge different rates at different times of day to incentivize a natural shift to ease the grid and help the planet. And with a few simple changes of behavior, you can see a substantially lower electricity bill each month.
At specific times of the day, a lot of people use a lot of energy, which can put pressure on the grid. These moments of pressure are called on-peak hours. And you can probably guess when those might be. During the summer, on-peak hours are the evening hours when the weather is hot, and you need your house cool. Off-peak is when you don’t need to use as much electricity.
These plans are meant to help customers like you save, while also helping the planet and the grid—which we all in Texas know is oh-so important. By simply limiting your electricity consumption during on-peak hours of the day, you can save money and help the grid. This could mean cranking your AC to cool your house overnight so you don’t have to have it as low during the on-peak hours. Or running your pool pump or charging your EV overnight.
And, no, these plans don’t come with a lot of gotchas. They are exactly what they are. A way for everyone to help each other while also helping themselves, their wallet, and the grid.
Time-of-use (TOU) is a billing concept in which the price of electricity varies based on when it’s used. While historically, this has been focused on differentiating price based on time of day, it can also be varied based on day or week, month of the year, or other potential markers. But what makes our plans unique is that they are just that: unique. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach like some others do. We developed multiple customized plans, and depending on your needs, usage, tech-savviness, and willingness to make some simple changes, you can save a lot of money.
If you can shift your energy consumption off of on-peak hours, your bill will go down. It’s as simple as that. And depending on which plan you choose, those hours will occur at different times with different energy rates incentives in each time slot.
Anyone who is willing to make a few slight adjustments in their day-to-day energy usage can save a lot of money. With technology where it’s at today, for example if you own a smart thermostat or an EV charging app, it’s simple to just set up energy adjustments on your phone (turning your AC up a few degrees during evening on-peak hours then back down afterwards). Also, the grid and the planet benefit. You're contributing to a cleaner future, because you’re using more power during periods of the day that are usually supplied by a higher percentage of renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
Energy charge breakdowns by hour specific to your plan can be found in the Learn More section of plan card or on EFL.
Want to read more? Cool.
5 Ways to Prepare for Summer Heat with Time of Use
Time of Use (TOU) enables you to prepare for the summer heat by scheduling energy usage during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower. This will help you optimize cooling, reduce costs, and manage your electricity consumption.
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11 Ways to Conserve Energy & Stay Cool This Summer
Learn 11 ways to conserve energy and stay cool this summer so you can stay comfortable and pay less on your next energy bill.
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What is a Time of Use Rate? A Detailed Overview
Time of use (TOU) rate is an electric rate calculated based on the period of the day when you use the electrical energy.
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*Time-of-use plan availability varies by utility provider. PUCT 10279. © Rhythm.