• PSE launched a TOU pilot program on Oct. 1, 2023 to study the impacts of encouraging electric customers to shift when and how they use energy in their homes and businesses.


• The pilot will run for two years to gather data and analyze the effectiveness of different time-of-use rate plan options, incentives, and reinforcement communications within a select group of electric customers across two winter and summer seasons.


• The purpose of the pilot is to understand the collective impact to the electric grid in order to maintain reliability, integrate more renewable energy, and keep costs lower for all.


• PSE anticipates offering TOU rate options to more electric customers after completion of the pilot program.


• Participation in the pilot program is optional/voluntary.

• In an effort to test and provide all customers with more rate options in the future, a representative sample of residential and commercial electric customers across PSE’s service area were pre-selected to receive an invitation by email or regular mail to consider enrolling and participating in the optional/voluntary pilot program.

• Savings. Customers can take advantage of lower rates during “off-peak” periods to maximize potential savings on their electric bill.


• Control. Customized tips and interactive tools are available for customers to personalize their savings estimate and help manage electricity use. Regular reports and updates help customers stay on track, too.


• Sustainability/environmental. Shifting electricity use away from peak demand times helps maintain reliability and promotes integration of more renewable energy resources, ensuring a cleaner energy future for all.

• Unfortunately, PSE cannot guarantee that this program will lower all customers’ electric bills. Rate comparisons for a TOU rate plan option are estimates only and do not guarantee specific savings on future bills. Actual costs and savings will be based on electricity usage during specific “peak” and “off-peak” periods and vary depending on your usage patterns throughout those periods if you switch to a TOU rate plan.


• A TOU rate plan may be more ideal for customers who inherently use less electricity during “peak” hours, or have the flexibility and willingness to shift when and how they use the most energy-intensive appliances, equipment, machinery and electric heating/cooling systems away from “peak” periods when demand and costs are highest.


• This will require some effort by the customer to learn the “peak” and “off-peak” hours associated with their TOU rate plan, make adjustments to their lifestyle or business/operating hours, and stay informed through the pilot program’s regular electronic communications.

PSE anticipates offering TOU rate options to more electric customers after completion of the pilot program.

• Some pre-selected customers who enrolled in the TOU pilot program may be eligible to receive Peak Time Rebate bill credits for further reducing their electricity use during “peak time rebate events.”


• Peak time rebate events are a way for PSE customers to actively participate in helping ensure electrical grid reliability now and for the future. While our electrical grid is robust and stable, it is strengthened and protected by customers taking action and participating in energy reduction when demand and costs are highest, typically during hot summer and cold winter days.


• On peak time rebate event days, the peak periods may be either 7 a.m. - 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. during the winter months (October-March), and 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. during the summer months (April-September). Events will not be called on weekends and legal holidays.


• Participation in “peak time rebate events” is voluntary, but TOU customers must continue to receive at least one type of event notification in order to participate in the Time-of-Use with Peak Time Rebates pilot program.


• No more than 20 peak time rebate events will be called each calendar year, and customers will be notified by email and/or text message at least one day ahead with the exact timing of the event to allow time to prepare should you choose to participate. You will also be reminded at the start and end of the event.

• Energy savings are calculated for each event using a baseline. This baseline is created by averaging the metered electricity consumption of the three highest-usage days during the same peak hours among the 10 business days before the event.


• The basic formula to determine the kWh savings during the event is: [average baseline usage] - [actual event usage] = kWh savings. The kWh savings is then multiplied by approximately $0.45 to determine the total credit amount earned for the event. If you use less electricity during the event than your average baseline, you will receive a credit on your bill.


• Any Peak Time Rebate credits earned on events will be calculated 48 hours after the event and will be reflected on your next bill as a separate line item under the section “Miscellaneous Charges and Credits.”


• Residential TOU customers also participating in the Bill Discount program may receive a proportionately discounted Peak Time Rebate credit amount on their bill.

Customers who enrolled in a TOU rate plan featuring Peak Time Rebates (Sch. 317 or Sch. 324) are not eligible to simultaneously participate in PSE’s other demand response programs (Flex Rewards/Flex Smart) and will be opted out accordingly. However, customers who are currently enrolled in a standalone TOU rate plan (Sch. 307 or Sch. 327) are eligible to simultaneously enroll in both Flex Rewards/Flex Smart and TOU.

If you enrolled before Oct. 1, 2023 (the official launch date for the Time-of-Use (TOU) pilot program), your TOU rate plan started or will start on the first day of your billing period on or after Oct. 1, 2023.

• For example, if you enrolled in the TOU pilot program on Sept. 1, and the first day of your billing period is the 5th of the month, your TOU rate plan started on Oct. 5, 2023. You should see your TOU rates reflected on your November bill.

If you enrolled after Oct. 1, 2023, your TOU rate plan will start on the first day of your billing period after the date that you enroll.

• For example, if you enrolled in the TOU pilot program on Oct. 10, and the first day of your billing period is the 15th of the month, your TOU rate plan started on Oct. 15. You should see your TOU rates reflected on your November bill.

You can find your billing period dates by logging in to PSE.com > My account and clicking “Current bill (PDF)” to view your bill start/end dates under Detail Information for your account on page 2.

• Yes, participation in the TOU pilot program is completely voluntary with no minimum commitment.


• You may un-enroll at any time and switch back to your previous rate plan (Sch. 7 for Residential Electric Service or Sch. 24 for Commercial Electric Service) without penalty; however, you will be unable to enroll in a TOU rate plan again for 12 months.


• The start date for reverting to your previous rate plan will be at the beginning of the next billing period after the date of un-enrollment in the TOU pilot program.


• To cancel or manage your enrollment, log in to your PSE account and navigate to "Products & Services." For assistance, call an Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482 or email TOU@pse.com.

The peak and off-peak periods associated with your TOU rate plan are dependent on the season and which rate schedule you enrolled in. On a TOU rate plan, you will pay more for electricity during peak periods and less for electricity during off-peak periods on weekdays, weekends and legal holidays.

You can find more details about the TOU rate schedules here:

• Sch. 307 Time-of-Use
• Sch. 317 Time-of-Use with Peak Time Rebates (Residential)
• Sch. 324 Time-of-Use with Peak Time Rebates (Commercial)
• Sch. 327 Time-of-Use with Super Off-Peak

The following dates are considered legal holidays and not subject to peak period pricing:

• New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)


• MLK Day (third Monday of January)


• Presidents’ Day (third Monday of February)


• Memorial Day (last Monday of May)


• Juneteenth (Jun. 19)


• Independence Day (Jul. 4)


• Labor Day (first Monday of September)


• Veterans’ Day (Nov. 11)


• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)


• Day after Thanksgiving (Friday immediately following fourth Thursday in November)


• Christmas Day (Dec. 25)