Real Time Pricing
With Real Time Pricing….When you use electricity is just as important as how much electricity you use.
NineStar electric members are on a Real Time Pricing electric rate structure. The time-based rate defines on-peak, off-peak and starting in May, new super off-peak hours.
WHAT IS REAL TIME PRICING?
Real Time Pricing is the time-based rate for Residential and General Service electric rates. The time-based rate defines on-peak, off-peak and super off-peak hours. The charge for electricity is higher during on-peak hours than it is during off-peak or super off-peak hours. NineStar on-peak hours are be 5pm-8pm Monday – Friday.
- Rates will be the lowest during “super off-peak” hours between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
- The “off-peak” hours will be 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 5:00a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
- Electricity prices will be highest during “on-peak” hours between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) when demand for energy and the cost of meeting that demand is greater.
HOW DO I SAVE MONEY ON REAL TIME PRICING?
Members are not required to change any of their habits on the real time pricing rate structure. However, further shifting your energy use to off-peak and super off-peak hours, when the cost of energy is lower, can help reduce your energy bill even more.
Use less energy during peak periods by:
- Turning off all non-essential lighting and other electrical devices.
- Pre-heating and cooling your home prior to peak hours.
- Maintaining a conservative thermostat setting for heating and cooling.
- Using timers to run appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, electric dryers, electric water heaters, pool pumps, and ovens during off-peak & super off-peak hours.
- Charging electronics, Electric Vehicles (EV’s), tools or other devices during the off-peak & super off-peak hours.
Savings Tips
Here are some easy tips to get the most out of your Real Time Pricing rate plan.
With this kind of plan, when you use electricity is as important as how much you use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Real Time Pricing is the time-based rate for Residential and General Service electric rates. The time-based rate defines on-peak, off-peak and the new super off-peak hours. The charge for electricity is higher during on-peak hours than it is during off-peak or super off-peak hours. NineStar on-peak hours are 5pm-8pm Monday – Friday.
NineStar is a distribution utility. NineStar purchases power from a generation and transmission provider. The charge for energy during the on-peak hours is higher than it is during the off-peak or super off-peak hours. A time-based rate passes those higher costs on to those members that use energy during the on-peak hours.
On-peak $0.21062 per kWh
Off-peak $0.12243 per kWh
Super off-peak $0.11361 per kWh
Households that choose not to decrease energy usage during the on-peak hours will see an increase in their monthly bill. Households that can decrease energy usage during the on-peak hours and move energy usage to the off-peak or the super-off-peak hours can minimize the impact on their electric bill.
The super off-peak rate was first included on electric bills in May of 2023.
Yes. Members can choose the Peak Time Savings rate. This was formerly known as Time of Use. The Peak Time Savings rate allows members the opportunity for greater savings on their electric bill if they minimize electric usage during the on-peak hours.
Yes! You can still stay on Budget billing.
Yes. Members can log in to SmartHub and see graphs of their usage broken down by the hour and grouped by on-peak, off-peak and super off-peak usage.
Members do not have to change their household electricity usage. Members can still use appliances, lighting, electronics, etc. at any time. The cost of using those electric devices will just be more from 5pm-8pm Monday-Friday.
The Co-op Difference
NineStar Connect is a nonprofit electric and communications cooperative, so we don’t sell to customers or work for shareholders. Instead, we have members who are actually our owners.
Learn MoreThe Co-op Difference
NineStar Connect is a nonprofit electric and communications cooperative, so we don’t sell to customers or work for shareholders. Instead, we have members who are actually our owners.