TOU HBA Main Insight Module

This module shows customers what portion of their energy use occurs during on-peak periods, provides details about the cost of energy use during peak periods, displays usage charts for weekdays and weekends, and encourages them to shift their energy usage to off-peak hours.

Note:

User Experience

This section describes the cost user experience for the TOU HBA Main Insight module.

This image shows an example of the TOU HBA Main Insight module:

Figure 3-7 TOU HBA Main Insight


This image shows an example of the module.

The module contains these elements:

Module Title: The title asks the reader to think about reducing or shifting their energy use.

Module Graphic: The graphic shows a clock to illustrate that the timing of energy use is important.

Insight Statement 1: The statement below the graphic tells the reader what percentage of their electricity cost was during on-peak hours. The percentage is rounded to the nearest whole percent. For example, the statement might say, "32% of your electricity costs come from on-peak hours."

Insight Statement 2: This statement explains how much more expensive energy is during peak hours compared to off-peak hours, and asks the reader to try and shift usage away from the on-peak time period. The cost ratio is calculated by comparing the highest cost period to the lowest cost period. For example, the statement might say, "On-peak hours are 2.2x more expensive than off peak hours. On weekdays, try to shift usage away from 4pm - 7pm when possible."

Weekday Chart Title: The title of the first chart informs the user that the data is related to their weekday energy spending.

Weekday Bar Chart: The chart depicts the average weekday electricity spending during each hour of the day. The different peak periods are color coded, and described in the legend below the chart, to enable readers to easily identify when they are spending the most on electricity. The legend includes dollar sign indicators next to each period name and labels below each item to identify high, medium, and low-cost periods.

Weekday Date Range Statement: This statement identifies the date range that is used to determine the information in the bar chart. For example, the statement might say, "Your average hourly weekday electricity spending January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024".

Weekend Chart Title: The title of the second chart informs the user that the data is related to their weekend energy spending.

Weekend Bar Chart: The chart depicts the average weekend electricity spending during each hour of the day. Utilities typically do not have peak periods on weekends, therefore, this chart is typically shown in a single color with a legend below. The legend includes dollar sign indicators next to each period name and labels below each item to identify high, medium, and low-cost periods. The data helps readers understand when they are spending on electricity on the weekends.

Weekend Date Range Statement: This statement identifies the date range that is used to determine the information in the bar chart. For example, the statement might say, "Your average hourly weekend electricity spending January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024".

See More Electricity Trends: Clicking this button takes customers to a specified site with additional information. The utility customer can configure this button to direct the customer to a site of their choosing. If available, the button should direct customers to the Data Browser in the Digital Self Service - Energy Management Web Portal. The customer is then prompted to sign in to their account, or to register an account if they have not previously done so.

User Experience Variations

This section discusses the user experience variations in the TOU HBA Main Insight module.

Usage Variations

This image shows an example of the usage version of the TOU HBA Main Insight module:

Figure 3-8 Usage Variation


This image shows an example of the usage variation.

The usage version of the module varies from the cost version as follows:

Insight Statement 1: The statement below the graphic tells the reader what percentage of their energy use was during on-peak hours. For example, the statement might say, "32% of your electricity use was during on-peak hours."

Weekday Chart Title: The title of the first chart informs the user that the data is related to their weekday energy usage.

Weekday Bar Chart: The chart depicts the average weekday electricity usage during each hour of the day. The different peak periods are color coded, and described in the legend below the chart, to enable readers to easily identify when they are using the most electricity.

Weekday Date Range Statement: This statement identifies the date range that is used to determine the information in the bar chart. For example, the statement might say, "Your average hourly weekday electricity use January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024".

Weekend Chart Title: The title of the second chart informs the user that the data is related to their weekend energy usage.

Weekend Bar Chart: The chart depicts the average weekend electricity use during each hour of the day. Utilities typically do not have peak periods on weekends, therefore, this chart is typically shown in a single color with a legend below. The data helps readers understand when they are using energy on the weekends.

Weekend Date Range Statement: This statement identifies the date range that is used to determine the information in the bar chart. For example, the statement might say, "Your average hourly weekend electricity use January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024".

Tiered TOU Plans

For tiered TOU plans, the module varies in the following way:

Insight Statement 2: This statement explains how much more expensive energy is during peak hours compared to off-peak hours, and asks the reader to try and shift usage away from the on-peak time period. The tier with the highest cost ratio is used when calculating the price ratio in the statement, which might say, "On-peak hours are up to 2.2x more expensive than off peak hours. On weekdays, try to shift usage away from 4pm - 7pm when possible."

Demand Rate Plans

For demand rate plans, the module varies in the following way:

Insight Statement 2: For Demand TOU plans, the cost ratio is already stated in the Demand TOU 101 module. Therefore, the first sentence of the statement is removed. The statement might say, "On weekdays, try to shift usage away from 4pm - 7pm when possible."

Multiple High-Cost Periods

If there are two or more highest costs periods, the module varies in the following way:

Insight Statement 2: The last sentence of the statement varies for multiple high-cost periods to tell the user that there are multiple time periods when they should shift their energy use, as follows:

  • Two high-cost periods: The statement might say, "On-peak hours are up to 2.2x more expensive than off peak hours. On weekdays, try to shift usage away from 7am - 10am and 4pm - 7pm when possible."

  • Three or more high-cost periods: The statement uses the name of the highest cost period, and might say "On-peak hours are up to 2.2x more expensive than off peak hours. On weekdays, try to shift usage away from on-peak when possible."

Low Peak Usage

If the percentage of peak usage is below a certain threshold, the module varies in the following ways:

Module Title: The title of the module changes to "Can you reduce your energy use?"

Module Graphic: No graphic is included.

Insight Statement 1: Not included in the module.

Insight Statement 2: Not included in the module.

TOU Hours the Same on Weekdays and Weekends

If TOU hours are the same during weekdays and weekends, only one chart is included in the module. The chart encompasses both weekdays and weekend days.

The chart title and the date range statements are changed as follows for cost variations:

  • Chart title: "Your average hourly cost"
  • Date range statement: "Your average hourly electricity spending January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024"

The chart title and the date range statements are changed as follows for usage variations:

  • Chart title: "Your average hourly usage"
  • Date range statement: "Your average hourly electricity use January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024"

Holiday Variation

When a holiday is included in the time period, the module is updated as follows for cost variations:

Chart titles: "Your average <weekend or weekday> and holiday spending"

Date range statements: "Your average hourly <weekend or weekday> and holiday electricity spending January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024"

The module is updated as follows for usage variations:

Chart titles: "Your average <weekend or weekday> and holiday usage"

Date range statements: "Your average hourly <weekend or weekday> and holiday electricity use January 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024"