My Peak Demand:
Where Do I Fit?

Find the electricity usage that you most identify with and see how the 3-part rate structure could impact your bill.

These real-life examples from our members show how Peak Demand Rate might affect everyday households like yours. Spot your lifestyle, see example bill shifts, and discover simple tweaks, like timers or off-peak shifts, that give you opportunities to manage your bill.

This is where your bill is now. It does not reflect simple changes you could make if you’d like to decrease the cost of your bill. These scenarios are averages. They are not a guarantee. Check out the Member Rate Education Hub or give us a call for more specific information.

Working Mom

Sarah Johnson

I’m Sarah, raising two kids. I’m at the office by day, and wrangling family chaos in the evening. We may see a small decrease or increase per month under the new rate structure, but we also have more options to manage our bill. We heat our home with natural gas. We plan to use the delay-start feature on our dishwasher and run the laundry after bedtime. We will also explore rebates for programmable thermostats or water heater timers.

Kwh used in January: 746 Kwh
January power bill (Before 3-part rate structure): $149.56 

January power bill with Peak Demand reading 3.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $147.03
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 5.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $152.03
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 7.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $157.03

Retired

Juan Myers

I’m Juan, and my wife and I are retired. We heat our home with propane. Our energy use is simple. With the new rate structure, we may see a minimal decrease or increase in our monthly bill. We plan to take advantage of our flexible schedule to use energy off-peak—that means running loads of laundry during the day and preheating our home before peak hours start at 5 p.m.

Kwh used in January: 1067 Kwh
January power bill (Before 3-part rate structure): $195.69

January power bill with Peak Demand reading 3.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $188.85
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 5.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $193.85
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 7.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $198.85
Solar User

Mia Andersen

I’m Mia, and I’m a net meter member. I’ve been learning more about the environmental benefits of using energy outside of SDCEA’s peak period. If I use energy outside of the peak period, it is more likely to be generated from a renewable source, reducing my bill and helping the planet at the same time. With the new rate structure, I plan to shift my energy use to times I am generating power as much as possible, and am exploring adding a battery to my system that can discharge during peak hours. Plus, I just learned I could save by staggering my appliance use!

Kwh used in January: 51 Kwh

January power bill (Before 3-part rate structure): $49.69

January power bill with Peak Demand reading 3.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $56.50
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 5.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $61.50
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 7.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $66.50

Seasonal User

Jake Stewart

Hey, I’m Jake. We have a second home that we use for summer fishing and getaways. The new rate structure is giving me an incentive to upgrade all of my smart appliances—I can preheat from afar, and have put many of my appliances on timers. I also winterize my home before I head out of town—all to make sure I’m only paying for KWh when I’m using them. Not only do these upgrades help with my electricity bill, they have made my second home completely hassle free.

Kwh used in January: 210 Kwh
January power bill (Before 3-part rate structure): $72.54

January power bill with Peak Demand reading 3.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $77.21
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 5.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $82.21
January power bill with Peak Demand reading 7.00
(After 3-part rate structure): $87.21

Shift. Stagger. Save. Gives You Options to Manage Your Bill

Learn More
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Need Support?

Would you like individualized help navigating the new rate structure? Call (719) 395-2412 or email: sdcearates@myelectric.coop.

See your estimated charges — try the rate calculator here.

FAQs

What if my household doesn't fit perfectly into one of the usage patterns?

That’s completely normal — the usage patterns are general references, not exact matches. Most households fall somewhere between examples, and your actual energy use will naturally vary based on usage, your lifestyle, family size, and habits.
The good news is that you don’t need to fit neatly into one category to benefit from these example, look at the individual scenarios within each usage pattern to find tips and strategies that apply to your situation and help you manage your costs. If you’d like personalized guidance tailored to your household, our team is happy to help — call us toll-free at (844) 395-2412 or email sdcearates@myelectric.coop.

Are the example bills exact?

Yes — the bill amounts shown in each example are exact for the energy use displayed in that scenario. However, your actual bill will vary from month to month based on your personal usage, lifestyle, family size, and habits. Think of the examples as helpful reference points rather than a prediction of what you’ll pay.

Applicable taxes, fees, the service availability charge, and rate rider are not included in this total.

Can I change my bill without changing routines too much?

Yes — small changes can make a real difference. By shifting when you run appliances, like waiting until off-peak hours to run your dishwasher or washing machine and staggering their use so multiple high-draw appliances aren’t running at the same time, you can reduce your monthly energy costs. You don’t need to change your lifestyle, just your timing.

Learn about Shift. Stagger. Save.
Do I need smart home equipment to save money?

No — you can lower your energy costs without any smart home devices. By shifting when you run appliances, like waiting until off-peak hours to run your dishwasher or dryer and staggering their use so multiple high-draw appliances aren’t running at the same time, you can reduce your monthly energy costs.

Learn about Shift. Stagger. Save.

That said, if you’re considering upgrading to newer appliances or more energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, look for models with delay or programming features that let you take advantage of the new rate. You may also qualify for rebates to help offset the cost of upgrading your appliances.

See If You Qualify for Rebates

And, if you’d like a personalized look at your home’s energy use and suggestions for weatherization, we offer home assessments — contact our energy advisor for more information, toll-free (844) 395-2412.