The time-of-day rate alternative
PGE offers an alternate rate structure for those who want to control their energy bills. The Time of Use rate differs by time of day, day of week and season.
PGE system prices and therefore Time of Use prices are higher when the demand for energy is highest. Typical peak hours are during weekday mornings and evenings. During low demand hours — overnight and on weekends — system prices are lower — and so are Time of Use rates during this time period.
Customers who will benefit most from this option are those who can significantly shift their energy use from on- and mid-peak hours to off-peak hours. If you cannot significantly shift your usage, you may not save money and may pay more than on the Basic Service rate.
Understand Time of Use and how it may affect your bill:
You receive a guarantee for the first year that you will receive a credit at the end of your 12-month period if your energy cost exceeds by 10 percent what it would have been under the Basic Service rate.
- Your electricity price equals your actual usage billed according to rates based on on-, off- and mid-peak usage periods, plus an additional $1/month meter charge (single phase).
- These energy charges do not reflect your total bill, which includes other charges that apply to every PGE customer, such as basic charge, distribution and supplemental adjustments.
- Prices cannot be changed without PUC approval.
- You are required to enroll in Time of Use for a minimum of one year in order to receive the guarantee.
- A special meter must be installed by PGE to participate in Time of Use; PGE must have access to the meter on a monthly basis.
- To be eligible for the Time of Use option, PGE must have hands-on access to your meter on a monthly basis. This means providing entry through locked gates or doors and keeping the area around the meter free of debris, hazards and pets. Monthly access is necessary to ensure accurate reading and billing as well as for maintenance and safety. It’s also required because we cannot estimate your Time of Use consumption.
To choose Time of Use pricing, fill out our online enrollment form.
Supply mix
Your supplier has bought or plans to buy power or unique claims on the electricity produced from these types of power plants. The portion supplied by PGE is based on recent utility production and purchases. (May not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.) Figures represent 2005 data.
PGE may sell the environmental attributes (“Tradable Renewable Energy Credits” or “green tags”) associated with the renewable energy in our Basic Service resource mix, which may result in lower electric bills and/or the acquisition of additional renewable resources for our customers. Any renewable energy associated with green tag sales will be based on net system mix for reporting purposes. (Per OPUC Order No. 07-083)
Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to global climate change. Among the likely impacts for Oregon are less mountain snow pack and less water available in summer, higher sea levels, and threats to forests, crops, and fish and wildlife habitat. Coal and natural gas are the main sources of carbon dioxide from power generation.
Nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide are air pollutants that affect human health, plants, fish and wildlife. Nitrogen oxides contribute to smog. Coal is the main source of these pollutants from power generation. Natural gas plants produce nitrogen oxides.
Nuclear fuel wastes contain the most radioactive and long-lived waste formed during operation of nuclear power plants. These wastes are stored at nuclear power reactor sites. The United States has no permanent disposal site for these wastes.
Some hydropower dams contribute to the decline of salmon and other fish and wildlife populations.
* Source: Oregon Office of Energy
