TOU 101 Module

This module educates customers about when electricity is most expensive based on their TOU rate plan. The module provides customers with the following information:

  • 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

User Experience

This module includes the following components:

Insight Statement: A statement at the top of the module identifies the peak hours, and provides information about how much more expensive energy use is during those hours. For example, "On weekdays, electricity is 2.75x more expensive from 4pm - 7pm".

Peak Hours Sliding Scale: This component highlights the hours during the day when the customer's electricity is most expensive based on their TOU rate plan. It is designed to inform customers when their electricity use will contribute most significantly to a higher energy bill.

This module was designed to be used in conjunction with the Hourly Usage module.

This image is an example using only peak and off-peak periods:


Example of the TOU 101 module.

User Experience Variations

This section discusses the user experience variations in the TOU 101 module.

Peak Hours Insight Statement

The Peak Hours insight statement varies based on the customer's rate plan and the type of days displayed in the timeline. The following table shows the insight statement variations for different scenarios:

Peak Hour Scenario User Experience Example
Weekdays with a single peak period for plans with differing rates on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xpm to Xpm>.
Weekdays with multiple peak periods for plans with differing rates on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xam to Xpm> and <Xpm to Xpm>.
Weekend days with a single peak period for plans with differing rates on weekdays and weekends. On weekends, electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xpm to Xpm>.
Weekend days with multiple peak periods for plans with differing rates on weekdays and weekends. On weekdays, electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xam to Xpm> and <Xpm to Xpm>.
Any day for plans with a single peak period, and a pricing scheme that is the same on weekdays and weekends. Electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xpm to Xpm>.
Any day for plans with multiple peak periods, and a pricing scheme that is the same on weekdays and weekends. Electricity is 1.5x more expensive from <Xam to Xpm> and <Xpm to Xpm>.
Any of the above variations with tiered TOU rates.

The above statements are used, but the wording "up to" is included before the price ratio. For example:

  • Electricity is up to 1.5x more expensive from <Xpm to Xpm>.

  • On weekdays, electricity is up to 1.5x more expensive from <Xpm to Xpm> and <Xpm to Xpm>.

Note that the tier with the highest price ratio is used when determining the price ratio in the statement.

Multiple Peak Periods

For utility customers with rate plans that include multiple peak periods, the timeline shows all peak periods using the same color.

Peak and Partial-Peak Periods

For utility customers with rate plans that include both peak and partial-peak periods, the timeline shows both periods using two different colors.