Customer eligibility: NY

Hours of Power for Less

As a consumer, you're accustomed to making money-saving choices and paying lower prices for goods and services used during off-peak times. A number of industries — such as telecommunications and commercial airlines — offer attractive off-peak rates to even out customer demand and prevent system overload.

O&R's Time-Of-Use (TOU) electric rate is based on the same concept. By reducing your electric use during peak periods, you have the opportunity to lower your annual energy costs — without reducing the overall amount of electricity you use.

Here's how the TOU electric rate is applied to residential service. As you can see, changes in your household's energy use routine may be necessary.

Monthly Service Charge for TOU: $17.55

TOU rates apply only to the Delivery Charge portion of your overall electric energy bill

Under New York State's transition to a deregulated energy market, O&R no longer produces electricity. Instead, O&R buys the power supply customers need from generating companies in the open market and then deliver that energy to your home or business.

The cost for your electric supply is shown on your energy bill as the Market Supply Charge. The cost for O&R's delivery of that electricity is listed on your bill as Delivery Charge. This portion of your bill is where the TOU rate applies. Typically, 53% of the annual residential bill payment is for Market Supply Charges, with 45% covering O&R's delivery costs and 2% going to government taxes.

Could I end up paying more on the TOU rate?

Although you may see a slight increase in your summer electric bills under the TOU rate, the savings you gain during the eight months of October through May will help you lower your annual electric costs.

The TOU rate is offered as an incentive to shift your electric use from peak to off-peak hours — particularly during the summer.

Being on the TOU Rate will require you to make adjustments in your daily routine. If you don't change your energy usage patterns, you could pay more — or your may come out about even — on this rate.

So, it's up to you to switch your electric use to the less expensive off-peak hours, especially for large appliances like dishwashers, air conditioners, electric heating systems, electric ovens or clothes dryers.

Measuring your energy use on TOU

If you sign up, we'll arrange to install a special TOU meter at your home. Unlike your current electric meter, the TOU meter records your total kilowatt-hour consumption, and the meter's computerized clock keeps track of your energy use during different times of the day and year.

How to sign up

Contact Customer Assistance. If you sign up for TOU, then decide it's not right for you, you can switch back to the standard rate after a minimum of one year. We'll let you know ahead of time when your one-year anniversary date is.