"Night, early morning, or midday, when most people are at work, these are considered off-peak hours," says Matt Kerr, electrical engineer and co-founder of Appliance Geeked. "Because it puts less stress on your local power system, running your dishwasher at these hours can also save electricity."
Electricity is often cheaper late at night or early in the morning, so you can save on your electric bill if you run your heaviest loads during those times. These are typical off-peak hours when not as many people are using electricity.
In most places (in the US anyway) after midnight is generally the best time because utility rates are cheaper. That is why when I was an appliance rep and my focus was laundry, the delay start was a feature that I pushed because if you scheduled a load of clothes to wash after midnight you could save some money.
Electricity is typically cheaper at night because demand is lower across the country. The majority of people turn off their lights, devices like TVs and games consoles, and appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, then go to sleep.
Heating and cooling: 45-50%
The largest electricity consumer in the average household is your heating and cooling appliance. By a long shot. Central air conditioners and heaters use tons of energy in order to keep your home set to the right temperature.
What time does my off-peak electricity start? The times for off-peak electricity vary depending on your meter, however it is normally a 7 hour window between 11pm - 8am, for example 11pm - 6am. If you're not sure when your off peak rate starts get in touch with your energy supplier.
Make sure appliances like your computer and television are really off when you turn them off. Plug your computer and television into power strips, and turn off the power strip before you go to bed at night and save electricity and money.
4-9 p.m. are higher-priced (peak) times. All other times are lower-priced (off-peak).
No. While there are reasons for utilities to give cheaper rates at night and other off-peak times for electricity, I've never heard of time-of-use rates for water. As David Samules points out, you MIGHT save on your electric bill if you have an electric water heater and your utility has a lower night rate.
Don't do laundry on New Year's Day, or a member of the family will be washed away (i.e., die) during the coming year.
Washing Machines: Aim to run your laundry overnight or early in the morning. Many off-peak hours fall in these times, making it ideal for washing clothes while you sleep.
For instance, a common range for peak hours is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cheapest time to do laundry for an energy plan with these higher TOU rates is before 4 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
Wash Clothes During Off-Peak Hours
On average, off-peak hours are between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. during the week and all day on weekends. The best time to do laundry to save money based on electricity prices is in the early morning, at night or on a Saturday or Sunday.
Electric dryers span a wide range of wattages, from about 2,000 to 6,000 watts. That translates to about 2 to 6 kWh of electricity. Based on the national average rate of 12¢ per kWh, each hour of electric drying will cost somewhere between 24¢ and 72¢, depending on the model.
Limit the use of household appliances during peak hours of the day — use heavy appliances during early morning or later evening hours. Adjust appliance settings to save energy, such as washing clothes in cold water, not setting your refrigerator and freezer temperatures lower than necessary.
What costs the most on your electric bill? Heating and cooling are by far the greatest energy users in the home, making up around 40% of your electric bill. Other big users are washers, dryers, ovens, and stoves. Electronic devices like laptops and TVs are usually pretty cheap to run, but of course, it can all add up.
How much electricity does a TV use? Generally, TVs use between 50 to 200 watts (W) of electricity, depending on the model. Most TVs use less than one amp and connect to a 120-volt outlet. Older TVs that use technology such as Plasma and CRT are much less efficient compared to newer LED and LCD TVs.
Air Conditioning & Heating
Your HVAC system uses the most energy of any single appliance or system at 46 percent of the average U.S. home's energy consumption. Depending on the efficiency of your unit, in a 24-hour period, your HVAC could use around 28-63 kWh, resulting in about 850-1,950 kWh in a month.
Switching off your microwave after every use is another way you could make a saving. The Energy Saving Trust also said a microwave is one of the appliances that will "eat up electricity" when left on standby.
Most TVs use about 1.3 watts in standby mode, or about 2-5% of the wattage required when turned on. It's a small amount of power, but devices like TVs have a big impact nationwide. Consider the scale: 96% of US homes have at least one TV, a total of over 125 million!
Buy Gas on Monday or Tuesday
Be strategic about the days you fill up at the pump. “For gas, Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the cheapest days to fill up your tank as demand is lower at the beginning of the week,” Anderson said.
If you're on a time-of-use tariff, during the daylight hours of peak demand, typically from 8am to 10pm, you'll be charged the higher day rate. Conversely, during the night time hours, usually from 10pm to 8am, you'll benefit from a more wallet-friendly night rate.
While the plan offers free or reduced energy rates at night or on the weekend, your energy charge during the day or during the week is elevated to overcompensate for your savings. Most households end up paying more with a free nights and weekends plan than if they had signed up for a simple fixed rate plan instead.