Turning down the air conditioning during the peak period will maximize those savings, the utility says.
By Sunday, temperatures are expected to dip back into the 70s and 80s.īoth utilities have provided tips for customers navigating the peak pricing model and higher summer rates.Īccording to Consumers, raising your thermostat 5 degrees for 8 hours during the day can help people cut costs on your bill. So far this week, temperatures have been in the high 80s and could hit 90 degrees Thursday, according to the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service in Detroit.Īccording to the weather service, the area will see afternoon winds, which could help people who want to reduce their air conditioning use during peak hours. The start of the summer peak period for DTE and Consumers customers will set in just as summer weather has finally arrived in Michigan. The goal is to align rates with the actual cost of producing electricity at different times, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission. The new rate structure for DTE and Consumers customers stem from rulings by the Michigan Public Service Commission mandating that the companies transition to the time-of-day pricing mechanism. “We’re encouraging customers to save money by reducing electricity use during this on-peak time, or shifting use to mornings, nights and weekends.” “With this rate, when you use electricity can be just as important as how much you use,” Consumers explained on its website, where it breaks down the pricing mechanism for its customers. The off-peak rates stay the same year-round for both companies. The rest of the day and on weekends, the off-peak rates are set at $0.103 per kilowatt hour. During those peak hours, users can expect to pay $0.158 per kilowatt hour. Outside of those weekend peak hours, customers will be charged a lower rate of $0.1545 per kilowatt hour.Ĭonsumers customers will also see the summer rates go into effect on weekdays starting on June 1 between the hours of 2-7 p.m. The rest of the year, from October 1 through May, the peak hour pricing is set at $0.1675. Under the program, customers of the two utility companies are charged higher prices for the energy they use during peak hours, with an added increase in the summer months, meaning that anyone wanting to crank up their air conditioning during the peak periods will see costs spike.įor DTE customers, electricity will cost $0.2098 cents per kilowatt hour during peak hours, which have been set at 3-7 p.m.
This week’s seasonal change is part of a new pricing mechanism, required by Michigan’s utility regulators, known as "time of use” rates. The increased summer rates kick in Thursday, June 1, and last until the end of September, making it more expensive to use electricity during the late afternoon and early evening hours. New summer electricity rates go into effect this week for DTE Energy and Consumers Energy customers across the state, just as temperatures are expected to hit 90 degrees for the first time this year.
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