MICHIGAN, USA — Consumers Energy is notifying customers that their Summer Rate will begin soon. The increased price occurs during "peak hours." It is also the company's way of encouraging its customers to take advantage of lower-cost electricity available at certain times of the day as well as working toward a cleaner energy future.
"Our Summer Rate is the standard rate for all customers," read a statement on Consumers website. "For this rate there is on-peak and off-peak pricing, and a flat rate during non-summer months."
The Summer Rate begins June 1 and continues until Sept. 30. Consumers said that when customers use less energy at peak times it means less natural gas is used so that we can rely more on cleaner energy sources. In addition, they said it also places less strain on the power grid, making power more reliable for all.
"Being more reliable means everyone can have access to electricity when they need it," said Consumers.
Consumers also said that most customers will only see a small increase in their monthly bill even without changing when or how they use electricity.
Pricing:
- On peak pricing ($0.215/kWh) occurs from June 1 through September 30 on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Off-peak pricing ($0.166/kWh) is mornings, nights and weekends in the summer.
- During non-summer months there is a flat rate of $0.161/kWh.
Consumers tips for lowering energy use:
- Refresh your AC filters
- Clean or replace your furnace filters once a month so that your AC will run more efficiently.
- Install a smart thermostat
- Install a smart thermostat at home or in your office. Many will automatically adjust the temperature at the best setting to help save energy.
- Adjust your AC
- Raise your thermostat five degrees for eight hours. Doing this from 2 – 7 p.m. will maximize your savings.
- Postpone your chores
- Wash dishes or laundry after 7 p.m. With delay-start features, you can load now and start automatically in off-peak hours.
- Swap out your lights
- Replacing old incandescent bulbs with LEDs is an easy way to lower energy costs. Start with your five more used bulbs.
- Plug in a smart strip
- Plugging your electronic devices into a smart power strip prevents them from using energy when they’re off or in standby mode.
For more information or to calculate what your bill might look like you can visit consumersenergy.com.
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