Time of Use 101
The Time of Use 101 module educates customers about when electricity is most expensive based on their time of use rate plan. The module provides customers with information such as:
- Whether electricity prices differ on weekdays and weekends
- How much more expensive peak prices are than off-peak prices
- The hours during which electricity is most expensive
- A visual timeline that displays off-peak, partial-peak, and peak hours
The type of module a customer receives depends on their time of use rate plan and whether the customer receives the Time of Use Welcome Report or Time of Use Progress Report.
Appears in: Time of Use Report
Design
Time of Use 101 Welcome
The welcome version of the module is included in the Time of Use Welcome Report. It educates customers about their specific rate plan at the specific time the report is generated and why saving during peak is especially important. It also provides the customer with an example of how avoiding high energy appliances, like running the dryer, during peak hours can have a positive impact on their bill. The module varies by whether the customer has a simple or complex rate plan, and whether or not they are confirmed to have a clothing dryer. The following example is for a customer with a complex rate plan that includes a weekday single peak and no weekend peak.
The image below shows an example of Time of Use 101 welcome version of the module for a customer with a weekly peak period, and no weekend or holiday peak periods.
Time of Use 101 Progress
The image below shows an example of the Time of Use 101 progress version of the module for a customer with a single, weekday peak, no weekend peak hours, and a seasonal variation.
Configuration Options
For each element listed in the table, indicate the desired configuration in the Input Value column. If you do not provide an input for optional configurations, the default will be used.
Time of Use 101 Welcome Configuration Options
| Configuration Option | Input Value |
|---|---|
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Headling Default: An easy way to save during peak hours |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Illustration |
Optional Contact your Delivery Team about image options. |
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Body Text The body text identifies the dryer as one of the largest energy using appliances in the home and, therefore, costs a lot to run during peak hours. Default: Did you know your clothes dryer is one of the largest energy users in your home? It can use more power than an average refrigerator, clothes washer, and dishwasher combined! Since electricity costs the most during peak hours, running your clothes dryer at other times of day can help you save. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Primary timeline subheading The primary timeline is dynamic and tells the customer the period during which using energy will cost them the most. Default: On weekdays, electricity costs the most from [[start time]]-[[end time]]. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Secondary timeline Default: The secondary timeline is not included by default. Discuss including a secondary timeline with your Delivery Team. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Call to action Default: To view your rate plan details, go to [[URL]]. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Seasonal Timeline Default: The seasonal timeline is not included by default. Discuss including a secondary timeline with your Delivery Team. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Time of Use 101 Progress Configuration Options
| Configuration Option | Input Value |
|---|---|
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Heading The heading tells the customer that they can save money by using less energy during peak hours. Default: Save money by using less electricity during [peak hours]. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Body Text The body text identifies the dryer as one of the largest energy using appliances in the home and, therefore, costs a lot to run during peak hours. Default: Peak hours are when energy demand is highest in our region. Using less electricity during peak hours will save you more on your bill, and helps us deliver cleaner energy to the whole community. |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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Call to Action The call to action invites the customer to view their full plan details and provides a link to the utility's rate plan page. Default: To view your full plan details, go to [utilityco.com/tou-rateplans ]. |
Choose one of the following:
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Call to Action URL The call to aciton URL provides a link to the utility's rate plan page. Default: [utilityco.com/tou-rateplans] |
Optional Choose one of the following:
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User Experience Variations
The user experience varies for customers depending upon their report type, time of use plan type, available data, costs, and locale. The list below does not represent all possible variations.
Time of Use 101 Welcome User Experience Variations
Heading and Body Text: The heading and body text varies depending on whether or not the customer has a dryer, and the number of timelines included in the report.
Timeline Variations: The timeline subheading text varies based on the customer's rate plan and the type of days displayed in the sliding scale.
Time of Use 101 Progress User Experience Variations
Timeline Variations: The timeline subheading text varies based on the customer's rate plan and the type of days displayed in the sliding scale.