Time-of-Use Rates

MGE provides a choice for customers to reduce their electric bills by changing when they use electricity. If you shift significant electricity use from times of high electric demand to when demand is low, you will save. Complete the Benefit Worksheet to see if Time-of-Use (TOU) rates may be right for you.

TOU rates reflect MGE's costs to supply energy. It is more expensive to serve customers on-peak—when demand for electricity is high. We can charge our customers less off-peak—when the total amount of electricity our customers are using is low.

Peak periods

On-peak = 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday
Off-peak = 9 p.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday, weekends and holidays

TOU off-peak and on-peak hours

  Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat
10 a.m.
             
Noon
   X X X X X  
7 p.m.
  X X X X X  
9 p.m.
  X X X X X  
12 a.m.
           
 
6 a.m.
             
   
 
 - Off-Peak Hours
   
X
 - On-Peak Hours

 

Off-peak holidays

New Year's Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas

Who can save

The more you shift to off-peak, the more you can save. If you can use more than 60% of your electricity use during off–peak, your monthly bill may be lower than on the standard rate. Typically those who are saving on this rate:

  • Are away from home daytime Monday through Friday.
  • Have large electric appliances:
    • Water heater
    • Dehumidifier
    • Electric clothes dryer
    • Central air conditioner
  • Shift most of their use to off-peak.
  • Have 36 or more points on the Benefit Worksheet.

Program details

  • Electricity is still available at all times but priced at different rates.
  • Minimum of one full year participation required.
  • MGE will install the special TOU meter at no extra charge.
  • TOU rates are mandatory for non-farm, single-family residential units with average daily use of 130 kWh or more during the four-month summer billing season.

Semiannual status report

MGE will send you a status report in April and November to help you understand if TOU rates are saving you money. It compares your use on TOU rates to the standard Residential Service rate.

For more information

Current TOU rates
Time-of-Use Rates [160 kB PDF]