KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Electricity bills for customers of Consumers Energy are about to increase, but the company is sharing bills to reduce those costs.
Under Consumers Energy’s summer peak rate, customers should consider reducing energy use during peak summertime hours, which are from 2 – 7 p.m. weekdays from June through September.
Officials say those hours represent the period of the year with the highest demand on Michigan’s power grid — during which it costs more for utilities to provide electricity service — and requires additional sources of power generation to be online and running compared to all other hours of the year.
The price increase took effect on Tuesday, June 1.
As a result of this change, customers will have more control over their electricity use with options for lowering their costs, as well as help to reduce demand on the state’s electric grid during the summer daytime hours when electricity use its at its heaviest.
Officials say the benefits of shifting use away from these high-demand hours include reducing the need to build additional sources of power generation that may only run during those peak hours of the year, as well as limiting the emission of carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Under Consumers Energy’s current rates,
This rate change is not meant to penalize customers for using electricity during peak hours, but instead is meant to more closely align the price paid for electricity with the costs to produce the electricity.
Consumers Energy reported that most customers saw an increase of about $2 per month in the summer, while some saw small decreases in the summer months.
The MPSC believes this rate will empower customers who shift some of their households’ electricity use —
In addition, Consumers says that this decision will also align with its commitments around decarbonization, which includes a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.
Customers wanting to take full advantage of the new pricing structure can take a number of steps:
- Turn off or raise the temperature on home air conditioning during peak hours.
- Utilize ceiling fans to maintain household comfort during these times; also close off vents to areas of the home not being used.
- Install a programmable thermostat to help efficiently manage cooling.
- Make sure your cooling system is well-tuned and maintained and replace dirty or clogged filters to boost efficiency.
- Do laundry and run the dishwasher before 2 p.m. or after 7 p.m. These appliances are typically the most energy-intensive devices in a home.
Consumers Energy customers who have additional questions about the new rate can find more information at www.consumersenergy.com/
Readers can also check out the MPSC’s consumer tip on beating the heat for suggestions on
The U.S. Department of Energy has additional spring and summer tips for saving energy.
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