Colorado Xcel TOU and Demand-Time Differentiated Rates

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remarquian

Well-known member
Joined
May 2, 2016
Messages
64
Location
Denver, CO
So I just found out about this program where Xcel/Colorado is opening up a Time Of Usage and Demand-Time Differentiated trial.

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/03/07/xcel-energy-new-pricing/

I'm trying to make sense of it, but comparing the regular winter rates to the ToU rates doesn't seem to be much of a win.

https://www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe/Regulatory/COResRates.pdf
 
I've also been wondering if any of these make sense since I'm already signed up for the PV/Netmetering plan. I like the idea of scheduling the LEAF to charge at night during "off peak" hours, but I don't know if that really makes a difference when you have solar that is generating energy during the peak times.

Has anyone investigated these tiered rates and what they do when you have PV? I'm going to call Xcel and ask, but would like a third party opinion to sanity check what they say, too.
 
If the demand charge only applies to on-peak use, it looks like a good deal. Also, check to see if weekends ar off peak. If the demand charge applies to all hours (looks like it might from Xcel's web site), I would stay away. I have been on a time-of-use with on-peak demand charge rate in Arizona for 25 years and have saved a lot. I have a load controller that sheds the water heater, dryer, and heat pump compressors when demand exceeds the maximum setting I program (I choose set point based upon ambient temperature so that the house stays cool). My peak times are 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Friday.
 
Weekends are off peak in Colorado under the "time of use" plan. I applied to switch our home to the xcel time of use plan last week - waiting to hear back. If approved it'll start with the next billing cycle. We have a 2016 Leaf which we will charge at night. Basically the plan is:

2-6 pm weekdays peak charge
9 am - 2 pm weekdays moderate charge
6 pm - 9 pm weekdays moderate charge
9 pm - 9 am weekdays offpeak
weekends and holidays offpeak
 
Here is the most sane description of Colorado Xcel's rates. This makes it useful for deciding if Time of Usage is useful.

Note that this is just for June. We're in the April-June Electric Commodities Adjustment period and in the Summer June-September rates. So rates change in July.

Oh, and Summer Energy Tier I is up to 500 Kwh, and all Energy afterwards is Tier II.

https://www.xcelenergy.com/staticfiles/xe-responsive/Company/Rates%20&%20Regulations/CO-rate-books-Electric-Summation-Sheet.pdf
 
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