Utilities

The decision to change to TOD pricing was the result of a rate analysis, a 2015–2016 pilot study, and public input through City Council and Energy Board meetings, with the intent to provide a billing structure similar to the way Fort Collins Utilities is billed for wholesale power.

The cost of electricity fluctuates based on customer demand (use). TOD prices reflect these costs, depending on the time of the day, day of the week and season of the year.

What is coincident peak? Coincident peak is the one hour each month when demands on the wholesale electric grid are at its highest, due to increased customer demands for electricity. The costs related to coincident peak charges equates to roughly 30 percent of the total monthly wholesale costs incurred by Fort Collins Utilities. Rather than averaging wholesale coincident peak charges over 24 hours a day as they have been distributed in the past, now with TOD, these costs are allocated to only on-peak hours. In order to establish the varying seasonal ‘on-peak’ hours, staff took into consideration 10 years of historical wholesale peak hour data to identify which hours of the day these coincident peak hours occurred. 

2015-2016 Pilot Study: Results showed a 2.5 percent overall reduction in electric use, along with a shift in electric use from on-peak to off-peak hours, which lead to a slight bill decrease for most participants over the course of the year.

While many saw a decrease, some customers did pay more, depending on how much electricity they used during the on-peak hours. For reference, most households use approximately 17 percent of their monthly electricity during on-peak times, though this percentage can vary by season, ranging between 10-30+ percent. Read more about on- and off-peak hours in the next section.

During the study, most customers experienced a change of plus or minus a few dollars a month on their bill when balanced over the course of the year.

Details: 2015-2016 TOU Pilot Study (PDF 639KB)

Check out our online estimator to learn more about TOD pricing at your home.

TOD has two levels of pricing: off-peak and on-peak, and two seasons: non-summer and summer. Off-peak hours cost approximately 30 percent less than previous electric rates. On-peak prices are higher because that's when both customer demand and utility costs for electricity increase. An increase in prices during the on-peak hours more accurately represents the higher utility costs that also occur at that time.

Lower off-peak prices offer an incentive to shift a portion of your electric use from the more expensive on-peak hours, which can help you save money.

• Off-peak hours: 19-20 hours each weekday (depending on the season), all weekend hours and the six major holidays, including New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas
  • More than 80 percent of the time, the price you pay for electricity went down.
  • See pricing details below.

• On-peak non-summer (October-April) hours: 5-9 p.m., weekdays only
  • See below pricing details below.

• On-peak summer (May-September) hours: 2-7 p.m., weekdays only
  • See below pricing details below.

What is the average on-peak use? Typically, most households use approximately 17 percent of their monthly electricity during on-peak hours. However, this percentage changes by season, usually ranging between 10-30+ percent.

• On-peak use during the summer may range from 20-30+ percent, due to increased air-conditioning use.
• And, similarly, during the non-summer months, homes with all-electric heat may range from 20-30+ percent, while gas-heated homes are likely closer to 10-15 percent on-peak use.

Fort Collins Utilities has verified rate assignments based on whether a residence is heated entirely by non-electric heat sources (gas furnaces or gas boilers) or all-electric heat sources (electric baseboards or electric heat pumps). 

Residential customers with gas furnaces or gas boilers (approximately 90+ percent of customers) are on the TOD Rate as shown below.

Residential customers with electric baseboards or electric heat pumps (those with all-electric heat homes without gas heating) are on the Electric Heat TOD Rate as shown in the 'TOD Pricing - Electric Heat Customers' section.

TOD Pricing Estimator

Effective on meter readings on or after Oct. 1, 2018. Actual charges may vary due to rounding.

Service charges may apply.

Fort Collins Utilities has verified rate assignments based on whether a residence is heated entirely by non-electric heat sources (gas furnaces or gas boilers) or all-electric heat sources (electric baseboards or electric heat pumps).

Residential customers with electric baseboards or electric heat pumps (homes without gas heating) are on the Electric Heat TOD Rate, as shown below, without a tier charge for use over 700 kWh.

Customers with gas furnaces or gas boilers are placed on the TOD Rate as shown in the above 'TOD Pricing' section. 

TOD Pricing Estimator

*PILOTs: A 6 percent payment in lieu of taxes that is calculated on electric, water and wastewater rates. PILOTs are a payment to the City's general fund to replace revenue the City would have received from the utility in taxes and franchise fees if the utility were privately owned.

Only the primary heating source determines the type of TOD rate for customers, not solar (PV), electric vehicle charging or other factors.

Effective on meter readings on or after Oct. 1, 2018. Actual charges may vary due to rounding.

Service charges may apply.

For an example of your net metering bill, click here.

Residential Solar

Solar PV (net metered) customers will continue to receive credits for solar energy returned to the grid, based on the off-peak and on-peak hours as shown below.

Fort Collins Utilities is verified TOD rate assignments based on whether a residence is heated entirely by non-electric heat sources (gas furnaces or gas boilers) or by all-electric heat sources (electric baseboards or electric heat pumps).

Only the primary heating source determines the type of TOD rate for customers, not solar (PV), electric vehicle charging or other factors.

Residential customers with gas furnaces or gas boilers (approximately 90+ percent of customers) are on the TOD Rate. Residential customers with electric baseboards or electric heat pumps (homes without gas heating) are on the Electric Heat TOD Rate.

TOD Pricing Estimator

Community Solar

Community Solar customers will continue to receive credits for solar energy returned to the grid by the Riverside array, based on the off-peak and on-peak hours as shown below. 

TOD Pricing Estimator

Effective on meter readings on or after Oct. 1, 2018. Actual charges may vary due to rounding.

Service charges may apply.

TOD prices will be reflected on your November utility bill based on your October/November electric use. 

TOD pricing gives you the flexibility to control your electric bill:

• Shift your electric use to off-peak times.
• Use less during on-peak hours.
• Reduce your overall use.

High Electricity-Using Appliances:
AC | Dryer | Space Heaters | Oven | Dishwasher | Lighting | Electronics (computers, laptops, TV, etc.) | Electric Vehicles

Appliances:

• Do your laundry and run your electric clothes dryer in the morning or on weekends. Consider line drying clothing whenever possible.
• Run your dishwasher in the morning, later in the evening/night or on weekends.
• Incorporate stove-free dinners. Whether it's leftovers, grilling or working cold meals into the week, there are several ways to enjoy dinner without using your electric stove or oven. 
• Enroll your electric water heater in Peak Partners and save money by automatically shifting when the water is heated.

Heating and Cooling:

• Adjust the setting on your thermostat a few degrees lower in the cooler months and a few degrees higher in the summer months, especially during on-peak hours. (Energy.Gov recommends 78° in the summer and 68° in the winter).
• Pre-cool your home before 2 p.m. during the summer, and pre-heat it before 5 p.m. in the winter.
• Use fans during the on-peak hours of the summer instead of air conditioning.

Electronics: 

• Charge electronics and electric vehicles overnight.
• Plan a mini-marathon of your favorite shows. Late night or weekends are the perfect time to unwind and catch up.
• Reduce ‘vampire’ power by unplugging electronics that are not in use or putting them on a smart power strip.

Lighting

• Install LED light bulbs and be sure to turn them off when not needed.
• Turn off lights when not in use or when you leave the room.

Programs, Services and Rebates

Check out a Home Energy Monitor from the library to identify which appliances use the most energy in your home and take action to reduce their energy use during on-peak hours.

Learn about our efficiency and conservation programs, services, rebates and home energy audits.

Remember, it’s not just about using less electricity, it’s also about using it at the right time of day.

Fort Collins Utilities partners with local organizations to provide efficiency, conservation and bill payment assistance programs, including the Payment Assistance Fund and Income-Qualified Assistance Program, through our Affordability Portfolio.

Income-Qualified Assistance Program (IQAP) - Customers who qualify for the low-income energy assistance program (LEAP) may be qualified to receive a 23 percent discount on certain components of their monthly electric, water and wastewater bills.

Utilities also has a Medical Assistance Program (MAP), which offers medical rate discounts for customers who require medical equipment and/or air conditioning for medical purposes.

The electric line item descriptions on your bill will be associated with your off-peak and on-peak energy use. If the billing period crosses between a non-summer and summer month, your bill will break out the use for each season according to the different prices.