Peak demand is the time of day when customers use the most electricity. This is most common during air conditioning season, from June through September, during the late afternoon (2 – 7 p.m.). Reducing energy use during peak demand hours lowers stress on the electric grid and shifts energy use to less expensive off-peak times.

Events are planned when energy use is expected to be the highest, is in short supply, will be expensive or in response to an electrical grid emergency.

Energy Savings Events will usually occur up to 14 times during the summer months of June through September. This will be on non-holiday weekdays from 2 – 6 p.m. Events may be called because of an electric supply emergency or when we expect peak electricity demand. This happens especially during hot and humid weather. See Terms and Conditions for more details.

During an event, your electricity use in kWh (kilowatt-hours) is compared with your typical electricity use on similar weather days when there is no event. On event days, you can earn $1 per kWh that you reduce if you use less energy than on similar weather days during that time.

Yes, the Peak Time Rewards Program is risk free. If you’re unable to participate in an event, you can choose not to reduce or shift your electricity use on an Energy Savings Event day. You will simply earn $0 for the event since your energy use will likely not be lower than on a non-event day.

The Summer Rate is the standard rate for Residential electric customers. It consists of “on-peak” and “off-peak” rates:

• “On-peak” rate: From 2 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday from June 1 to September 30, the electricity rate is higher than the “off-peak” rate price.
  
  
• “Off-peak” rate: Customers pay a lower rate price for electricity used the other 19 hours each summer weekday (outside of “on-peak” times) and all weekend long.

With the Summer Rate, you can save money all summer long by reducing electricity use during the “on-peak” time, or shifting use to mornings, nights and weekends.

The Peak Time Rewards Program is an additional program you can join to help reduce electricity use on days of high energy demand during the summer. On up to 14 Energy Savings Event days each summer, you agree to reduce or shift your energy use even more than normal from 2 – 6 p.m. (one hour less than the Summer Rate is in effect), and you earn a $1 bill credit for every kilowatt reduced if you use less energy than you do on normal summer days during that time.

With both the Summer Rate and the Peak Time Rewards Program, when you use energy is just as important as how much you use. Your actions can save you money AND help ensure a cleaner energy future for Michigan.