APS Time Advantage Rate vs Combined Advantage Rate (appliances, house)

[Solere]

I am currently on the frozen Combined Advantage Rate that has very low kWh rates with the "catch" or drawback being a demand charge in the summer of $13. 55 per kilowatt. A full hour of a 5 ton 13 SEER A/C running can send the amount of the demand charge into the stratosphere. The APS website suggests that I would save money by switching to the Time Advantage 7pm to Noon plan where there is no demand charge, but a high on-peak and a low off-peak kWh rate. I am seeking opinions on what you all think of the Time Advantage 7pm to Noon plan vs the Combined Advantage Rate?

[exit2lef]

Combined Advantage works best when paired with a load controller that automatically switches off certain appliances (usually the dryer) when your household demand peaks. If you don't have a controller installed, it's probably better to go with Time Advantage.

[Ponderosa]

I have the demand rate and have had it for years and years. I once had a load controller but it conked out. You can achieve the same thing by using timers on the pool, the spa, the water heater if electric and then just playing the game. I also have a 5 ton ac. My peak demand in summer is about 6.5 and in winter about 2. The thing about the demand rate is that the off peak electric is very low so you can run your ac down. I sleep at 70 degrees and then let it run at that temp until noon when it jumps to 79. The pre chill keeps it nice until mid afternoon before the ac comes on again.

You can save money on this rate and live more comfortably, but you have to be very careful not to run high demand appliances at the same time during peak hours.


Note: One hour on my ac is about 5 kwh on the demand running flat out for one hour. My ac is 16 SEER though, so yours would be a little higher, but not the stratosphere. It sounds like you have something else going on at the same time (clothes dryer, dishwasher heat cycle, baking?).

[chaparrito]

I've tried every rate they offer. You ask me it's all smoke and mirrors. None made a significant difference from another.

[Zippyman]

I've never done the one with the demand charge - the noon-to-7 plan has been pretty easy to manage for us - laundry/dishes/oven-cooking always happens after 7. I ripped one of those load-controller thingies off my house before I painted it, so evidently a prior owner had tried the load-charge plan in the past.

We added better windows/insulation/18 seer heat pump/ & a heat-pump water heater after moving in, so I think our usage is in a different "tier" now than it used to be, so APS's calculators always suggest the plan we're on.