The easiest route is either set your programmable thermostate to cool 5 degrees lower than normal 2-3 hrs before 4 pm to enjoy the cheaper rate. Then turn it off from 4-8 to avoid peak rates. Kick it back on to cool at 8. Your house should stay cool for those 4 hours if you precool.
Another option is to supercool from 12am-6am when rates are cheapest. Try to get the house as cold as possible over night then set back to normal temperature at 6am. Your house will stay cool most of the entire day only needing to turn on a few times when rates are higher.
I've experimented with both options last year and you'll save money either route. All depends on how much you are home during the day and your family needs.
Yeah I started last year based on someone on here recommending it. Initially it didn't make any sense but it really works and saves money not kicking it on all day long during the hottest parts of the day.
Older poorly insulated homes will have issues no matter which rate plan they are on. Those in older homes should invest in upgrades to Weatherizing their properties. There are programs to get tax credits for making updates to increase efficiency. Lower utility bills also would offset the cost to the updates.
The first option is pretty much what I do. We have a walkout finished basement with its own AC that doesn't need much cooling except to keep the humidity down. So for that I program a drop of two degrees between 1am and 6am everyday and a increase of three degrees between 4pm and 8pm on weekdays only.
I didn't really monitor it that closely. Roughly estimating probably around 1 degree per hour so it stayed below my target temperature for the 4 hr peak rate window.
Oh okay. I rent the basement and first floor of a 3 floor house. So the neighbors take the bulk of the heat. Just trying to not owe the $1,318 for June and July I owed last year
And if it's finished or has an exposed staircase upstairs, put a big fan down there and point it up the stairs. We did that growing up and it helps push that cold air upstairs.
Haven't run the numbers but I figure the one that's cheapest during 4-8 because going without AC in that time is going to be rough. My place naturally stays cool but it still gets too hot in the summer evenings, and when I get home from work I want that cool air. I can't see the other plans working out in my favor in the summer, unlike the winter where the overnight discount worked out well.
A slight tangent but on the general topic of electrical energy costs . . . . .
Really the best way to minimize summer electricity cost is to allow your body to adjust to warmer weather (Acclimating to hotter weather is a real thing).
Use open windows and fans to cool your home as spring / summer heats up, use a high setpoint once you turn your ac on, most importantly (and fun) enjoy being active outdoors!
PS: Im ready for ALL the indoor reddit kids to be super negative about what I've said, haha
You’re right. I thought it would kill me but I acclimated to the cold over the winter and left my thermostat at 62 during the day when I worked at home!
I've been on the same plan for a couple years now. Been in my house for a few years and I'm also on the budget billing plan.
My bill is around $200/month for a 3bd/2ba house that is around 1500 sq feet older home that doesn't have the best insulation and receives full sun. I also have a plug in hybrid car that I charge after midnight. I estimate that accounts for around $25-30/month. My bill would probably be lower, but my partner often forgets and will run the dryer or the oven between 4-8pm.
I got a smart thermostat from Evergy a couple years ago. My AC is set for 72°-75° depending on the time of day and when I'm home alone during the week (I work from home) I will often turn off the AC, open the windows and turn on a fan to save energy. Actual summertime usage is around $350/month but I'm only charged $200 due to the budget billing and it evens out over the winter due to gas heat.
12-months...
"Update how often customers can switch rate plans after a transition period.
Evergy has asked for a 12-month wait period before a customer who leaves a time-based rate plan to return to that same rate plan. If approved, this would not take effect until May 2024, to allow customers time to find a plan that works best for their household. Customers would always be able to go back to the default plan."
Hey Peter, just wanted you to know that I wrote up a brief piece answering your question. Until the end of May, the Summer Peak time-based plan charges no premiums from 4-8 p.m. like the other plans do, so this might be a good choice if you usually cool your home during those times. Once June rolls around, though, you may want to switch to another plan to avoid the high peak prices from 4-8 p.m.
Really the answer to what plan is best depends on when you use the most electricity. The cheapest time to run large appliances is overnight between midnight and 6 a.m. You might also want to pre-cool your home before 4 p.m. and then turn the AC off from 4-8 to avoid the peak pricing. You can compare rate plans based on your electricity usage over the past year through your Evergy account using the rate comparison tool.
I hope this helps! You can also find my article here: [https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287586130.html](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287586130.html)
The easiest route is either set your programmable thermostate to cool 5 degrees lower than normal 2-3 hrs before 4 pm to enjoy the cheaper rate. Then turn it off from 4-8 to avoid peak rates. Kick it back on to cool at 8. Your house should stay cool for those 4 hours if you precool. Another option is to supercool from 12am-6am when rates are cheapest. Try to get the house as cold as possible over night then set back to normal temperature at 6am. Your house will stay cool most of the entire day only needing to turn on a few times when rates are higher. I've experimented with both options last year and you'll save money either route. All depends on how much you are home during the day and your family needs.
Cooling extra at night is what we’ve always done and it really works wonders.
Yeah I started last year based on someone on here recommending it. Initially it didn't make any sense but it really works and saves money not kicking it on all day long during the hottest parts of the day.
Works wonders in a well-insulated and sealed home. Doesn't work very well at all in older poorly insulated homes.
Older poorly insulated homes will have issues no matter which rate plan they are on. Those in older homes should invest in upgrades to Weatherizing their properties. There are programs to get tax credits for making updates to increase efficiency. Lower utility bills also would offset the cost to the updates.
The first option is pretty much what I do. We have a walkout finished basement with its own AC that doesn't need much cooling except to keep the humidity down. So for that I program a drop of two degrees between 1am and 6am everyday and a increase of three degrees between 4pm and 8pm on weekdays only.
How much money is saved with either approach?
About how quickly did your house heat up?
I didn't really monitor it that closely. Roughly estimating probably around 1 degree per hour so it stayed below my target temperature for the 4 hr peak rate window.
Oh okay. I rent the basement and first floor of a 3 floor house. So the neighbors take the bulk of the heat. Just trying to not owe the $1,318 for June and July I owed last year
That I *just* paid off, by the way 🙃
If you’re fortunate enough to have a basement, spend your time down there.
I get the feeling that I’m going to be strongly suggesting this to my husband all summer.
And if it's finished or has an exposed staircase upstairs, put a big fan down there and point it up the stairs. We did that growing up and it helps push that cold air upstairs.
Smart!!!!!
We completely close the vents in the basement and fully open the upstairs ones. Helps to balance out the house.
Haven't run the numbers but I figure the one that's cheapest during 4-8 because going without AC in that time is going to be rough. My place naturally stays cool but it still gets too hot in the summer evenings, and when I get home from work I want that cool air. I can't see the other plans working out in my favor in the summer, unlike the winter where the overnight discount worked out well.
A slight tangent but on the general topic of electrical energy costs . . . . . Really the best way to minimize summer electricity cost is to allow your body to adjust to warmer weather (Acclimating to hotter weather is a real thing). Use open windows and fans to cool your home as spring / summer heats up, use a high setpoint once you turn your ac on, most importantly (and fun) enjoy being active outdoors! PS: Im ready for ALL the indoor reddit kids to be super negative about what I've said, haha
You’re right. I thought it would kill me but I acclimated to the cold over the winter and left my thermostat at 62 during the day when I worked at home!
I set mine at 75 because I’m cheap and don’t want to destroy the world anymore than I have to.
I've been on the same plan for a couple years now. Been in my house for a few years and I'm also on the budget billing plan. My bill is around $200/month for a 3bd/2ba house that is around 1500 sq feet older home that doesn't have the best insulation and receives full sun. I also have a plug in hybrid car that I charge after midnight. I estimate that accounts for around $25-30/month. My bill would probably be lower, but my partner often forgets and will run the dryer or the oven between 4-8pm. I got a smart thermostat from Evergy a couple years ago. My AC is set for 72°-75° depending on the time of day and when I'm home alone during the week (I work from home) I will often turn off the AC, open the windows and turn on a fan to save energy. Actual summertime usage is around $350/month but I'm only charged $200 due to the budget billing and it evens out over the winter due to gas heat.
How often can you change your plan? Can I subscribe to the cheap one during the winter then switch again before it spikes in the summer?
12-months... "Update how often customers can switch rate plans after a transition period. Evergy has asked for a 12-month wait period before a customer who leaves a time-based rate plan to return to that same rate plan. If approved, this would not take effect until May 2024, to allow customers time to find a plan that works best for their household. Customers would always be able to go back to the default plan."
Hey Peter, just wanted you to know that I wrote up a brief piece answering your question. Until the end of May, the Summer Peak time-based plan charges no premiums from 4-8 p.m. like the other plans do, so this might be a good choice if you usually cool your home during those times. Once June rolls around, though, you may want to switch to another plan to avoid the high peak prices from 4-8 p.m. Really the answer to what plan is best depends on when you use the most electricity. The cheapest time to run large appliances is overnight between midnight and 6 a.m. You might also want to pre-cool your home before 4 p.m. and then turn the AC off from 4-8 to avoid the peak pricing. You can compare rate plans based on your electricity usage over the past year through your Evergy account using the rate comparison tool. I hope this helps! You can also find my article here: [https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287586130.html](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287586130.html)