[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Spartan86

Perhaps obvious but….you either stay on flat rate or go to variable, to include $.23/kw peak? Thanks.

Typically, yes. You either have the standard meter or they replace that with a time-of-use meter. One or the other, all-in on whatever choice you make.

When one of the electric companies in MD switched over they offered customers the choice. For one or two years you could voluntarily sign up for time-of-use billing. Later, they decided everyone would go to time-of-use metering and they changed everyone's meter. Who knows what SECO will choose to do but it sounds like it is a few years out anyway.

[Spartan86]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Typically, yes. You either have the standard meter or they replace that with a time-of-use meter. One or the other, all-in on whatever choice you make.

When one of the electric companies in MD switched over they offered customers the choice. For one or two years you could voluntarily sign up for time-of-use billing. Later, they decided everyone would go to time-of-use metering and they changed everyone's meter. Who knows what SECO will choose to do but it sounds like it is a few years out anyway.

Thanks

[RPDaly]

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[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Which brand did you get?

Ours is by Honeywell. They make quite a few, some, like ours, you can even program in the humidity you prefer, others just program for heat/cool temp, for each day of the week, so for those who work or are gone most of the day, the can program to just keep moderate cool/humidity, and then automatically cool a bit lower at the time you expect to return. Or, conversely, if you prefer it not as cool at night or when sleeping, you can program that in also. For us, we actually did find it lowered the bill, but part of that was, of course, replacing the old less efficient unit also ! I doubted the claims about efficiency, doubted actual savings, but the combination of a solid state programmable thermostat, and a new AC unit, did make an observable bottom line difference !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by RPDaly

Yes - to implement time-of-use billing you need a "smart" meter installed first that can transmit (typically via RF) stamped data to determine the cost based on the established tier pricing. Changing all meters over to this type will require a fair amount of time and cost to SECO. Although more than half of all residential customers in the United States already use this type of electrical meter so SECO is behind when it comes to this technology.

As a member owned rural co-op, quite different from a for profit corporation/utility (because this area was all ag at one time), I am surprised this was not mentioned at all at the last membership and election meeting, unless it was VERY quickly proposed the one time during the meeting I did leave to go to ....the restroom for a few minutes ! They usually do a great job of taking member input and discussion. Just surprised it was not even brought up by any members ?