Beatrice Lang
Seattle's electricity rates are determined by a three-tiered system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak hours. Peak hours, when electricity is most expensive, typically fall between 5 pm and 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, excluding city-observed holidays. During these times, the demand for electricity is high, resulting in increased rates. Seattle City Light is introducing a Time of Use (TOU) rate in fall 2025, empowering customers to make informed choices about their energy usage and manage their costs more effectively. This initiative aims to reduce energy consumption during peak hours, alleviating strain on the electric grid and promoting the integration of renewable energy sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Peak hours | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday (except on City-observed holidays) |
| Mid-peak hours | 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday |
| Mid-peak hours on Sundays and City-observed holidays | 6 a.m. to midnight |
| Off-peak hours | Midnight to 6 a.m. every day |
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What You'll Learn
Peak hours are from 5 pm to 9 pm, Monday to Saturday
In Seattle, electricity rates are based on a three-tiered system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price of electricity depends on the time of use. Peak hours, when electricity is the most expensive, are from 5 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, except on city-observed holidays. During these hours, there is typically a higher demand for electricity, resulting in increased rates.
If you use electricity during peak hours, you will pay a higher price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) compared to other times of the day. This period, from 5 pm to 9 pm, is considered peak due to the high demand for energy as people return home from work and school. Running appliances and using electricity-intensive devices during these hours will reflect a higher cost on your energy bill.
To save money on your energy costs, it is advisable to reduce your electricity usage during peak hours. This can include postponing the use of high-energy appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, until off-peak hours. By shifting your energy usage, you can take advantage of lower rates during the mid-peak and off-peak periods.
Mid-peak hours in Seattle are from 6 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to midnight, Monday through Saturday. During these times, the cost of electricity is moderately higher than off-peak hours but lower than peak hours. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 am to midnight, without any peak hours.
Off-peak hours, when electricity costs are at their lowest, occur from midnight to 6 am every day. This is the ideal time to use energy-intensive appliances or charge electric vehicles to optimize your energy costs. By adjusting your energy usage habits, you can make informed choices that benefit both your budget and the efficiency of the electric grid.
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Mid-peak hours are from 6 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to midnight, Monday to Saturday
Seattle's electricity rates are based on a three-tiered system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price of electricity depends on the time of use, with peak hours being the most expensive. Mid-peak hours in Seattle are from 6 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to midnight, Monday through Saturday. During these times, electricity rates are higher than off-peak hours but lower than peak hours.
Mid-peak hours reflect a time when the demand for electricity is moderate. The mid-peak window covers most of the day, excluding the early morning and late-night hours. This period often includes people's morning routines, work or school hours, and the beginning of the evening.
The mid-peak rate applies to a large portion of the day, making it a significant consideration for residents and businesses in Seattle. By being aware of the mid-peak hours, consumers can make informed choices about their energy usage. For example, running appliances or charging electric vehicles outside of mid-peak and peak hours can result in cost savings.
The transition from peak to mid-peak hours occurs at 5 pm, which is often when people return home from work or school. This timing may influence how people manage their energy usage, as activities like cooking dinner or doing laundry can be shifted to the mid-peak window. Similarly, the transition from mid-peak to peak hours at 9 pm offers another opportunity to adjust energy habits, such as turning off non-essential lights or electronics.
Understanding the mid-peak hours is part of Seattle's Time of Use (TOU) rate structure. This structure aims to encourage customers to use electricity during periods of lower demand, helping to reduce strain on the electric grid and promoting energy conservation. By considering the mid-peak hours, Seattle residents and businesses can optimize their energy usage and potentially lower their electricity bills.
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Off-peak hours are from midnight to 6 am daily
Seattle has a three-tiered system for electricity pricing: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price of electricity depends on the time of use. Off-peak hours are from midnight to 6 am daily, during which the cost of electricity is at its lowest. This is because the demand for electricity is typically lower during these hours.
By contrast, peak hours are when electricity is most expensive, from 5 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, except on city-observed holidays. Mid-peak hours are from 6 am to 5 pm and 9 pm to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 am to midnight, with no peak hours.
The time-of-use pricing structure encourages customers to use electricity when power is cheaper and demand is lower. This helps to reduce the strain on the electric grid. Customers who adjust their habits to run appliances and charge electric vehicles during off-peak times can benefit from lower rates and save on their bills.
The time-of-use rate also helps promote sustainability. By shifting electricity use away from peak demand times, it maintains reliability and facilitates the integration of more renewable energy resources, contributing to a cleaner energy future.
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Peak times are when electricity is most expensive
In Seattle, the price of electricity depends on the time of day it is used. Peak hours, when electricity is most expensive, are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on city-observed holidays. During these hours, there is typically a higher demand for electricity, which leads to a higher rate.
Mid-peak hours, which are slightly less expensive, are from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 a.m. to midnight, with no peak hours.
Off-peak hours, when electricity costs are at their lowest, are from midnight to 6 a.m. every day. During these early morning and late evening hours, customers can take advantage of lower rates by running appliances and charging electric vehicles.
Seattle City Light is introducing a Time of Use (TOU) rate in fall 2025, which will give customers more control over their energy costs. This rate structure aims to encourage customers to shift their energy use away from peak demand times, helping to conserve energy and potentially lower bills.
The TOU rate will empower customers to make informed choices about their energy usage, with the potential to save money and help the City meet its decarbonization goals. By adjusting home habits and using energy-intensive appliances during off-peak hours, Seattle residents can reduce their energy costs and contribute to a cleaner energy future.
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Time-of-use pricing encourages off-peak usage
Seattle is set to introduce a Time of Use (TOU) rate in mid to fall 2025 for eligible residential and small to medium business customers. The TOU rate will give users more control over their energy costs by providing them with the option to use electricity during off-peak hours when the rates are lower.
The TOU rate will be based on a three-tiered peak system: peak, mid-peak, and off-peak. The price of electricity will depend on when you use it. Peak hours are when electricity is most expensive, typically from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on city-observed holidays. This is when demand is highest, as people are usually settling in after work and school, running appliances, and charging devices and cars. During these times, the cost of generating and distributing electricity is higher, which is reflected in the peak rates.
Mid-peak hours will be from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing will apply all day from 6 a.m. to midnight, with no peak hours. Off-peak hours, when electricity costs are at their lowest, will be from midnight to 6 a.m. every day. During these hours, the cost of electricity generation and demand are both low, resulting in lower rates for customers.
By encouraging customers to use electricity during off-peak hours, the TOU rate will help reduce the strain on the electric grid. Customers can take advantage of lower rates by adjusting their habits and running appliances or charging electric vehicles during early morning or late evening hours. This option allows customers to make informed choices about their energy usage and can potentially lead to significant savings on their energy bills.
To prepare for the TOU rate launch, Seattle City Light is developing online tools and resources to help customers understand their energy usage and make informed decisions about their rate plans. These tools will enable customers to explore their energy usage patterns and choose the rate plan that best suits their needs and helps them optimize their energy costs.
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Frequently asked questions
Peak hours are from 5 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, except on city-observed holidays. During these hours, electricity is the most expensive.
Off-peak hours are from midnight to 6 am every day. During these hours, electricity costs are at their lowest.
Mid-peak hours are from 6 am to 5 pm and from 9 pm to midnight, Monday through Saturday. On Sundays and city-observed holidays, mid-peak pricing applies all day from 6 am to midnight.
Seattle City Light plans to introduce TOU rates in the fall of 2025. TOU rates will give customers more control over their energy costs by encouraging them to use electricity during off-peak hours.
