SerpApi.Org
You'll want to check your utility bill before you become a night owl.
With energy costs on the rise, it's no surprise that people are looking for just about any way to save a few bucks on their utility bills. And off-peak electrical usage has become one tool in the arsenal for helping you save some dough. That means shifting some tasks, like laundry or EV charging, to overnight or other hours when the energy usage is low, and the power company may offer discounts on every kilowatt-hour you use.
How much can you save by waiting until the wee hours to start up your washing machine or pop on the dishwasher? Here's the scoop on what off-peak power means, and how to save money (and energy) with every load of wash you do.
What Is Off-Peak Power?
Some utility companies have started to offer "time-of-use" plans instead of the typical flat-rate power rates. (Think like those old-school long-distance calling plans of yore!) If you sign up for a plan through your energy company, they'll give you a steep discount for power you use overnight (such as a late-night washing machine load), but charge more than the flat-rate plans for peak energy usage. "Peak hours are typically late afternoon and evenings, around 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.," says Kate Colarulli, chief strategy officer at CleanChoice Energy.
For instance, a time-of-use plan may charge 23 cents per kilowatt-hour during peak times, and just 6 cents per kilowatt-hour during off-peak hours—compared to 13 cents for anytime power on a flat-rate plan. So if you're willing to plan accordingly, you can wait until 9 p.m. to start up your laundry, your dishwasher, and other high-draw tasks, and get a steep discount on everything you do.
Tips
Many time-of-use plans label the whole weekend as off-peak, so you can also shift some of your activity to those days, too.
A typical washing machine uses between .4 and 1.4 kilowatt-hours per load, depending on your machine's efficiency and whether you're using hot or cold water for each load. (Heating the water is what's actually the biggest cost you'll face.)
Keep in mind that not every power company offers time-of-use (TOU) plans. "TOU pricing is actually not very common yet," Colarulli says. "As of 2024, 358 out of 1,713 U.S. utilities offer time-of-use pricing, with only 13.36 million residential customers enrolled in TOU pricing nationwide in 2024."
How to Set Yourself Up for Off-Peak Savings
You'll want to check your utility bill to see if you're on a time-of-use plan to take advantage of this potential money saver. (Because if you aren't, go ahead and start that load of wash whenever you want!) If you aren't on a time-of-use plan yet, here's what to consider before you make the leap and how to make the most of a time-of-use plan for your laundry and other high-energy tasks.
Assess your energy usage
Break out your utility bill and think about how (and when) you use energy throughout the year, keeping in mind that that may change with the seasons. If most of your energy usage falls during those peak rate hours, see if you can shift some of that to after 9 p.m., when many companies start their off-peak rates. "TOU plans aren’t ideal for every household because they are designed to reward customers who can shift electricity use to off-peak hours, when rates are lower," Colarulli says. "If you are home all day and cannot reasonably adjust energy usage due to comfort, health, or work-from-home needs, a TOU plan may not be a cost-effective option."
Many power companies can even offer you a free energy assessment to help you understand where your money is going, and how to reduce your energy costs—so feel free to take advantage of that!
Determine what energy usage habits you are able to change
You may not be super excited to avoid using the AC during peak hours in the summer, when the weather's at its hottest. But your laundry, dishwasher usage, bathing, and things like EV chargers and pool pumps may be just as easy to run overnight rather than during peak hours.
Keep in mind that this doesn't mean you have to wait until 9 p.m. to toss the clothes in the washer or the dishes in the dishwasher. You just have to wait until then to hit start on your laundry or dishwasher load.
Some of the biggest draws of energy include:
- HVAC systems (air conditioners and electric heaters)
- Water heaters
- Large appliances like washers, dryers, and dishwashers
- Electric vehicle charging
- Pool pumps
Tips
If you do subscribe to a time-of-use plan, there is a way to stay comfortable and avoid using peak electricity by super-cooling your home overnight and turning off the AC during peak hours.
Check out your utility company and alternative providers
Some utility companies are starting to offer time-of-use plans to encourage people to shift their power usage habits, and you may even be able to switch to competitors that can offer time-of-use options if your current provider doesn't. Your state's website is a good place to start researching and reviewing your options.
Consider smart plugs and other tools to help you save
Changing habits can be difficult, but you can find ways to automate some parts of your power usage to make the most of off-peak hours. For instance, some washing machines have programmable time delay functions that let you set them to start automatically when you want them to—once off-peak hours have started. (Dishwashers and EV chargers also often come with programmable features like this.) If you aren't ready to upgrade to a smarter appliance, smart plugs are another option (though you'll want to look for heavy-duty versions that can handle the electrical load of a major appliance). "Smart thermostats can pre-cool or pre-heat your home before peak pricing begins, or EV charger timers can be programmed to charge your electric vehicle overnight," Colarulli says.
Tips
For fire safety, most appliances (including dishwashers and dryers) should only be run while you are awake. So consider whether a time-of-use plan works for your lifestyle and sleep habits.
Related: 8 Appliances You Should Always Unplug When You're Not Using Them
Switch to cool water washing
You don't even have to switch to a time-of-use plan to reap some of the biggest energy savings on every laundry load. "You can save additional energy by using cold water to wash your clothes," Colarulli says. "About 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes toward heating the water, and by using cold water, you could save around $200 per year." Swap more of your laundry loads to cooler water, and you could reap some serious savings without swapping to a new plan.
Read the original article on Real Simple
