Your Sacramento electricity bill is about to jump. What to know about SMUD summer rates
Sacramento County residents may be looking at higher electricity bills this summer depending on the time of day the switch is flipped.
Starting June 1, Sacramento Municipal Utility District customers are billed around 14 cents more per kilowatt hour for using electricity between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday as part of SMUD’s “Time-of-Day Rate,” according to its website.
Customers who use electricity from noon to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Friday will be charged about 18 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to nearly 32 cents per kilowatt hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Customers save the most money when they use electricity midnight to noon Monday through Friday and all hours throughout the weekend.
According to SMUD, changing the time electricity is used could “save you on your bill and reduce the impact on our environment.” Noting saving energy will deter the need of building power plants and buying energy that’s not environmentally friendly.
Off peak rates are also higher than non-summer months.
SMUD summer rates last through Sept. 30.
How can I manage my electricity bill this summer?
Unplugging and avoiding certain home activities during the week this summer will take a bit of effort, but it will keep your electricity bill lower.
Things like not running certain appliances during certain times of the day, kicking your thermostat up a few notches and avoiding the oven are just a few tips to manage your monthly bill, according by SMUD. Here are a few more tips to use between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday:
▪ Use your washing machine, dishwasher or clothes dryer before 5 p.m. or after 8 p.m.
▪ Avoid your gaming system and turn off controllers when there not being used.
For more energy saving tips, visit SMUD’s website.
Am I eligible for the ‘Time-of-Day Rate’?
All residential customers are eligible for SMUD’s “Time-of-Day Rate”, expect those who don’t have a smart meter or those who live in a “residential master metered community,” according to the website.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 11:00 AM.