Pacific Power announced a new voluntary Time‑of‑Use (TOU) rate program for residential customers in Oregon. The program, which debuted in Bend and surrounding service areas, lets households pay lower electricity prices during off‑peak periods and higher prices when demand peaks. By encouraging customers to shift discretionary loads—such as laundry, dishwashing, or electric vehicle charging—to times when the grid is less strained, the utility hopes to reduce overall energy consumption and help families save on their monthly bills.
How the program works
Under the TOU structure, Pacific Power divides the day into three pricing windows: off‑peak, mid‑peak, and on‑peak. Off‑peak hours, typically late at night and early morning, carry the lowest rate. Mid‑peak covers late morning to early evening, while on‑peak spans the late‑afternoon to early evening when overall demand is highest. Customers who enroll will receive a detailed schedule and can monitor real‑time usage through the utility’s online portal or mobile app.
Participation is optional; customers who prefer the traditional flat‑rate plan can continue with their existing service. Pacific Power will send enrollment notices to eligible households, and interested customers can sign up online, by phone, or at a local service center. The utility estimates that families who shift just a few kilowatt‑hours of usage each day could see savings of up to 10 % on their electricity bills.
Who might benefit
Households with flexible electricity needs stand to gain the most. Families that can run dishwashers, washing machines, or charge electric vehicles during off‑peak hours will see the greatest cost reductions. Pacific Power also notes that remote workers who control home office equipment and smart‑home devices can more easily adjust usage patterns. The utility encourages customers to review their daily routines and identify appliances that can be timed to off‑peak periods.
For those concerned about the higher on‑peak rates, Pacific Power provides educational resources, including webinars and printable guides, to help customers understand how to plan energy‑intensive tasks. The utility also offers a free energy‑audit for new TOU participants, identifying additional opportunities to improve efficiency.
Potential impact on the grid
By flattening demand peaks, the TOU program supports grid reliability and may reduce the need for costly peaker plants that fire only during high‑demand periods. Pacific Power cites studies showing that similar programs in other states have helped lower overall system stress and contributed to a cleaner energy mix by allowing more renewable generation to be utilized when it is most abundant.
State regulators have welcomed the initiative as a market‑based approach to demand‑side management, aligning with Oregon’s broader clean‑energy goals. Pacific Power will report quarterly on enrollment numbers and aggregate savings, providing transparency for both customers and policymakers.
Next steps
Customers interested in the Time‑of‑Use program should watch for the enrollment flyer arriving in the next few weeks or visit Pacific Power’s website for more information. The utility plans to roll out the program statewide over the next twelve months, with the initial focus on areas where demand spikes have been most pronounced.
As Oregon continues to pursue ambitious renewable‑energy targets, programs like Pacific Power’s TOU rate offer a practical way for families to participate in the transition while keeping household budgets in check.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
