New higher rate structure for busy summer hours coming from Consumers Energy

“Consumers Energy is introducing new rates that surcharge peak hours of electrical use during the summer. Customers of the state’s largest utility company will be charged an increased rate during the on-peak hours of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday between June and September. The increase will be monitored through a customer’s electric meter. The intention is to discourage using energy at the same time as when others are increasing their use, Greg Stevenson, director of summer peak rates, said. The on-peak rate will be higher during the summer when many people are home with their air conditioning units blasting or they are running laundry machines, Stevenson said. The off-peak times will have a lower rate to encourage energy use throughout the day, so the effect on the grid is leveled off, he said. The off-peak rate is the same as the rate between October through May. Consumers Energy recommends its customers change some behaviors, like running appliances outside the peak hours, to avoid the charge.”

Source: New higher rate structure for busy summer hours coming from Consumers Energy