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TIME-OF-USE (TOU)

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  Want to see how these tips can turn into material
  cost savings? Check out the interactive home at 10
  Smart Meter Lane to see how TOU can work
  for you.
  
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  TOU electricity use? Log in to My Account to 
  access your TOU portal, or sign up for My 
  Account today.

TOU pricing coupled with smart meters means you have more control over your monthly electricity bill. By adjusting your electricity use habits slightly you can take advantage of when the cost of electricity is less.

When you were transitioned to TOU pricing, your home or business was fitted with a smart meter, which wirelessly transmits your electricity use to Hydro One so we can bill you as accurately as possible. Most importantly, though, smart meters help you better understand how your daily electricity use affects your monthly bill.

When you know exactly how much electricity you are using and what it costs at a given hour, you gain the power to make smarter choices for when you use electricity. You'll also be able to save more money by reducing your electricity usage during peak hours through pricing that rewards you for shifting your heaviest electricity usage to off-peak hours.

Because smart meters monitor your electricity use in real time, we're able to show you a breakdown of your electricity use every month on your bill. Find out where you can locate this information on your bill. To learn more about how smart meters work, check out the Independent Electricity System Operator's informative page or download our quick reference guide.

For current TOU rates visit the Electricity Prices page.

Here are a few ways you can take full advantage of TOU pricing

  1. 1. Shift the timing of household chores
    • Run your dishwasher after 7 p.m. or before 7 a.m. on weekdays
    • If your dishwasher doesn’t fill up quickly, wait until the weekend to run it, when electricity prices are lowest all day and all night
    • Save your laundry loads until the weekend whenever possible
      • If your laundry piles up quickly, wait until after 7 p.m. on weekdays to run the dryer – the heat required to dry clothes takes up a lot of energy, so waiting until the evening can save you up to a third of the regular cost
  2. 2. Manage your use of appliances
    • Your furnace and air conditioning use up a lot of electricity - by turning your furnace down a few degrees and your air conditioning up a little bit, you can reduce your electricity use
    • Before turning your air conditioning on during an on-peak period in the summer (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) consider using a fan instead
    • Turn off appliances when you're not home or set them to more moderate settings - timers and motion sensors are a great way to reduce energy use when you're not at home
    • Maintain appliances by regularly cleaning / changing filters
    • When it's time to replace your appliances, look for Energy Star products, which are designed to maximize energy efficiency
  3. 3. Run your hot tub or pool heaters and pumps during off-peak times
    • If you have a hot tub or a pool but don't run it regularly, they can still use lots of energy - turn the pumps and heaters on during off-peak periods to save money
  4. 4. Unplug small appliances when not in use
    • Some appliances such as TVs, computers, and chargers aren't fully turned off until they're unplugged. Consider using more power bars with on/off buttons to make sure your appliances are truly off - and not using power - when you're not using them
  5. 5. Take advantage of energy conservation programs
    • We know there are lots of tips and tricks out there for saving energy, so we've put all of our best energy conservation advice in one spot - visit the Save Energy page to learn more and sign up for programs such as Fridge & Freezer Pick Up and Peaksaver Plus

Find out more about smart meters and download additional information on how to take advantage of TOU pricing to share with the family or for future reference.
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