You can install our site as a web app on your iOS device by utilizing the Add to Home Screen feature in Safari. Please see this thread for more details on this.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Yes, they are all included in the billing, but they are rates that are applied to your net consumption, so they just apply to the net energy delivered by XCEL (total kWh consumed - generated kWh).In trying to compare apples to apples, I'm trying to figure out what else Xcel is including in the bill. In other words, if you switch to TOU, are the charges for the following ALSO added to the bill?
Trans Cost Adj
Elec Commodity Adj
Demand Side Mgmt Cost
Purch Cap Cost Adj
CACJA
Renew. Energy Std Adj
GRSA
I think if you currently generate more than you consume, under the two options in the current plan, you would probably be indifferent.FYI, I have pretty meticulous energy consumption and production stats for the past 8+ years on my home in Colorado. I can apply the TOU rates to historical data. With no changes in habits (I have a 14.2kW PV array and a Model 3 and Volvo TC60 TD Hybrid as well as geothermal HVAC), TOU is about 5 and up to 10% higher in cost than standard residential. This is not taking into account any changes to EV charging patterns (ie charging after 9pm). The flexibility of charging whenever I want is attractive. The only thing that would sway me to TOU is if my PV surplus was somehow worth more in TOU then in residential. So does anyone know if a monthly surplus offsets more with TOU than in residential? In other words, does 5 kWh produced in shoulder rates equate to roughly 10kWh in off peak power?
I think if you currently generate more than you consume, under the two options in the current plan, you would probably be indifferent.
Option 1 (default) TOU generation for each time block is first used to offset XCEL delivered kWh for that block. Peak for peak, shoulder for shoulder, off-peak for off peak. If there are XCEL delivered kWh that are not "retired" by these block for block, then the next more valuable generated kWh is applied against the shortage (ie excess shoulder generation is used against remaining XCEL off-peak). Under this plan, the monthly excess is banked by time block for the calendar year, and can be used against future months consumption, and at year end it is all cashed out for the average annual incremental acquisition cost for the year - last year that was about $0.015/kWh.
I'd say you have little to no advantage trying to capture TOU value, since in the end, the excess is all worth the same.
Option 2 - you need to elect, and that election cannot be revoked once it's made. In this case, the generation is captured by time block, and valued the same as kWh delivered by XCEL for the same time blocks. This value goes into a bank which is used to pay for energy delivered by XCEL, so there is some value to generating in high cost times and consuming in low cost.
The problem with this option is that you will never be able convert this bank into cash. When the contract ends (you move, or shut down your system, etc) the bank is simply zeroed out, it has no cash value. So if you have and will continue to have excess generation, then you can never access the value it creates.
Sorry about the missive, but I had to talk myself through this. If anyone knows the program better than me then please feel free to correct. Thanks
Sorry, I think I replied before seeing your post. In looking at my data and calculating retrospectively, option 1 ends up costing me more on my power bill without the flexibility I currently have. Option 2, if true, may be worth it as excess PV generated during peak should offset more than 1:1 with off peak usage. Am I reading this correctly? I did apply for the program but before switching I will clarify with Xcel this critical detail. If anyone else knows the answer here, I would love to hear more detail. It's not entirely clear how consumers are supposed to know what the right choice is here as it all seems like guesswork, even with my data from the last 8 years (which most don't have).
The answer to that question is "it depends". That's what I tried to explain above. I don't know how much excess production you have, I don't know what it's worth under your current plan, I don't know which option under the TOU plan you would choose. I tried to describe how the TOU excess production was handled under the two options that are available, but if you always run a deficit (consumption exceeds generation) then it appears to me that if you can change your habits and use off peak energy for charging the car, you could end up ahead of the game. In this option, Energy pricing ($/kWh, ignoring all the other fees which are applied equally to all time blocks) for consumption and generation are currently:Is my excess generation (which is usually not greater than consumption for an entire month) worth “ more” with TOU or is it all the same? That is the key for me trying to decide to switch or not.
The answer to that question is "it depends". That's what I tried to explain above. I don't know how much excess production you have, I don't know what it's worth under your current plan, I don't know which option under the TOU plan you would choose. I tried to describe how the TOU excess production was handled under the two options that are available, but if you always run a deficit (consumption exceeds generation) then it appears to me that if you can change your habits and use off peak energy for charging the car, you could end up ahead of the game. In this option, Energy pricing ($/kWh, ignoring all the other fees which are applied equally to all time blocks) for consumption and generation are currently:
On Peak - winter/summer $0.08880 $0.13814
Shoulder - winter/summer. $0.05143. $0.08420
Off Peak - winter/summer. $0.04440 $0.04440
So - the qualified answer to your question is - maybe. You will need to determine how much excess generation you have and when it occurs, and what it's worth under your current plan, how much of your energy usage you can shift to off peak/shoulder time, and also how you value credits in a bank for future use versus cash in hand, among other things.
BTW, as I read your last post, if your consumption for an entire month is not usually greater than consumption, do you pay XCEL for energy - not just the "service and facilities" fee - every (or most) months? If that's the case, I would say you do not have excess production, and either option under TOU could possible save you some money, but again, you will need to do some analysis to determine that.
Sorry it looks like a simple question, but there a just so many variables there is not a simple answer.
I have all the data I need to be able to calculate this: Optimus 14.190kW | Live Output
You are correct in assuming that, for the year, I only produce about 70% of consumption (obviously more in the summer).
I calculated TOU for July and for last January based upon the Peak, Shoulder, and Off Peak rates you've outlined. Unless I'm calculating incorrectly, my bill would be 5-10% higher under TOU than currently. This of course, is without any change in charging habits and also excludes the higher rate of usage with EV as I now have a Model 3 and Volvo hybrid instead of just a Volt previously. My current residential rate is $0.0546/kWh (in summer that jumps to $0.0990/kWh over 500kWh for the month). So time shifting my Model 3 charging to after 9pm saves me about $0.01/kWh used. Assuming 4 miles/kWh and 15,000 miles/year, that's a savings of about $37.50 for the year.
The only question is if I am calculating correctly from the data I have. I believe my estimates are assuming PV production to offset 1:1 kWh/kWh which I don't think is accurate. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Using Option 2, if your PV generation exceeds the consumption during peak and shoulder times, then in the summer months, the value of the left over kWh can be used to offset about 1.5 kWh of off peak for each kWh of shoulder remaining or about 2 kWh of any peak remaining.I have all the data I need to be able to calculate this: Optimus 14.190kW | Live Output
You are correct in assuming that, for the year, I only produce about 70% of consumption (obviously more in the summer).
I calculated TOU for July and for last January based upon the Peak, Shoulder, and Off Peak rates you've outlined. Unless I'm calculating incorrectly, my bill would be 5-10% higher under TOU than currently. This of course, is without any change in charging habits and also excludes the higher rate of usage with EV as I now have a Model 3 and Volvo hybrid instead of just a Volt previously. My current residential rate is $0.0546/kWh (in summer that jumps to $0.0990/kWh over 500kWh for the month). So time shifting my Model 3 charging to after 9pm saves me about $0.01/kWh used. Assuming 4 miles/kWh and 15,000 miles/year, that's a savings of about $37.50 for the year.
The only question is if I am calculating correctly from the data I have. I believe my estimates are assuming PV production to offset 1:1 kWh/kWh which I don't think is accurate. Any thoughts are appreciated.
I have also seen about the same reduction in my bill with this, and I don't have solar either (roof layout doesn't really work for it sadly).TOU without solar has helped us cut our bills by nearly 30% over the past year. We recently had solar and Powerwalls installed but are still waiting for PTO. Going forward, we should really never have any peak usage, thanks to our Powerwalls. I think nearly all usage will end up being Off peak.
BTW, we ended up going with option 2 ourselves, hoping that the kWh we bank in the summer months can help offset our winter usage.
Dear Customer:
We recently submitted a proposal for Residential Time of Use electric rates to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), after a two-year trial in Colorado homes. Time of Use rates will give Xcel Energy—Colorado residential customers a new way to manage their energy bills. By shifting energy use away from peak weekday periods, residential customers can save money while helping reduce carbon emissions.
We are proposing that customers shift to this new Time of Use rate as new smart meters are installed, in a rollout scheduled to begin in 2021. These new meters will give customers fast feedback on how much electricity they use, helping them make decisions about their energy use. More information will be provided about the new meters as installation dates approach.
If approved as filed, these rates would become the default pricing plan for all residential customers in Colorado, replacing summer tiered rates. The On-Peak rate would apply from 3 to 7 p.m. each weekday (except holidays), June through September. Off-Peak rates offer savings and would stay in effect for most of the year (October to May), plus summer weekends and holidays.
LEARN MORE
This rate filing is subject to approval by the CPUC. Details about this request, including the legal notice, are available here. Rates are set through a transparent process with the Commission, which includes opportunities for public input and participation.