Best Time to Run Appliances to Save Electricity TOU Rate Guide 2026
If your utility offers time-of-use (TOU) rates, running heavy appliances during off-peak hours (typically 10pm-6am) can save 20-40% on your electricity bill. Off-peak rates can be as low as $0.05-$0.10/kWh versus $0.25-$0.50/kWh during peak hours (2pm-7pm). The biggest savings come from shifting EV charging, laundry, dishwasher, and pool pump operation to overnight hours.
How Time-of-Use Rates Work
TOU rates charge different prices per kWh depending on the time of day. Off-peak (10pm-6am): Lowest rates, $0.05-$0.10/kWh. Grid demand is low. Mid-peak (6am-2pm, 7pm-10pm): Moderate rates, $0.12-$0.20/kWh. On-peak (2pm-7pm weekdays): Highest rates, $0.25-$0.50/kWh. This is when AC demand peaks in summer. Weekends: Often off-peak or mid-peak all day. Exact hours vary by utility — check your provider's TOU schedule.
Which Appliances to Shift Off-Peak
Focus on the biggest energy consumers: EV charger (32-48A): The single biggest savings opportunity. Schedule charging for 10pm-6am — saves $30-60/month. Dishwasher: Run after dinner dishes are loaded, delay-start to 10pm. Laundry (washer + dryer): Run loads after 10pm or on weekends. Pool pump: Timer to run 10pm-6am. Water heater: Timer to heat during off-peak, store hot water for the day. Do NOT shift these: refrigerator (runs 24/7 automatically), lights (use when needed), cooking (meal times are fixed).
How Much Can You Actually Save?
Example for a California household (SCE TOU-D-4-9PM rate): Off-peak $0.07/kWh, on-peak $0.43/kWh. EV charging (10 kWh/day): Off-peak: $0.70/day vs on-peak: $4.30/day = $108/month savings. Dishwasher (1.8 kWh/load): Off-peak: $0.13 vs on-peak: $0.77 = $19/month savings. Laundry (5 kWh/load, 2x/week): Off-peak: $0.35 vs on-peak: $2.15 = $14/month savings. Total potential TOU savings: $141/month for this household. Use our Electricity Cost Calculator.
Smart Home Automation for TOU Savings
Modern smart home devices make TOU optimization automatic: Smart EV chargers (Tesla, JuiceBox, ChargePoint) have built-in scheduling — set once and forget. Smart thermostats (Ecobee, Nest) can pre-cool before peak hours and raise the setpoint during peak. Smart plugs with scheduling for pool pumps, water heaters, and other deferrable loads. Smart dishwashers and washers have delay-start features — load in the evening, start at 10pm automatically. The investment in smart controls ($200-500 total) pays for itself in 1-3 months of TOU savings.
| Time Period | Hours | Rate ($/kWh) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Peak | 10pm-6am | $0.07 | EV, laundry, dishwasher, pool |
| Mid-Peak | 6am-4pm | $0.18 | Normal usage, cooking |
| On-Peak | 4pm-9pm | $0.43 | Minimize usage — AC setback |
| Weekend | All day | $0.07-0.18 | Catch up on laundry, cleaning |
Should You Switch to a TOU Rate Plan?
TOU rates benefit you most if you can shift 50%+ of usage to off-peak. Good candidates: EV owners (biggest single win), pool owners, work-from-home (flexible laundry/dishwasher), solar owners (produce during peak, use stored energy or shift loads to off-peak). Poor candidates: homes with heavy afternoon AC use that cannot be shifted, large families with inflexible schedules. Most utilities let you switch between flat and TOU rates — try TOU for a month and compare your bills. Many utilities also offer specific EV rate plans with extra-low overnight rates.
Disclaimer: For educational reference only. Consult a licensed professional.