Duquesne Light Launches Time-Of-Use Program

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Electricity is the life blood of all our comforts and necessities, and as it rolls in, you can almost see dollar signs fly.

If you get a flyer in your mailbox from Duquesne Light, it's not junk mail, it's your invitation to Time-Of-Use.

"It can potentially save money because they can shift their electric usage to off-peak hours and what that means is they can consume electricity at lower rates," Jessica Rock with Duquesne Light said.

If you opt in to Time-Of-Use, right now only through Direct Energy or Washington Gas and Electric, come June, you'll have two electric rates; one during non-peak hours and a rate about three cents higher during the peak hours.

"So it's usually about noon to that 7 p.m. time frame," Rock said.

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To lower your bill you simply move some activities out of the peak hours.

"So you may want to think about running your dishwasher during off peak hours," Rock said.

Turn your thermostat up a notch or two and wait until evening to wash your clothes.

The Public Utility Commission says you can help conserve electricity while saving a chunk of change.

"If you even just take at it's surface three cents times a thousand kilowatt hours, which is in general what the average home would use, is 30 dollars a month," said Nils Hagen-Frederiksen with Public Utility Commission.

Budget plan customers would have to come off the budget arrangement to take advantage of Time-Of-Use. If you're on an assistance program or are carrying a balance you are not eligible. You have to have a new smart meter.

Come September, the plan switches to a 24-hour rate until next summer.

If you do get involved in the program and decide its not for you, you can opt out at any time.