Peak hours are the times during the day when there is high demand for electricity during the winter months (November 1 – March 31). 

For the Time-of-Use rate, peaks times are 7:00am – 11:00am and 5:00pm – 9:00pm Monday to Friday. After 9pm, weekends and holidays are all off-peak. 

For the Critical Peak rate, peak events are 4 hours in length and can occur any time between 6:00am and 11:00pm every day but holidays.

Rates during these hours vary by plan.

Everyone’s energy use is different, but if your business reduces or shifts energy use to off-peak hours, you have the potential to save money on this pilot. Visit the Energy Shifting Tips section for tips on how your business can reduce your usage.

Your bill is based on how much energy your business uses. If you cannot reduce or shift your energy to off-peak hours on winter weekdays between November and March, there is a chance your bill could increase. Your bills may increase in the winter, particularly on the Time-of-Use rate plan, which is offset with lower rates in the summer months. You can switch back to the Small General or General (with Demand Charges) rate plans anytime, without penalty. This can be done by contacting our Customer Care at 1-800-428-6774.

Critical Peak events last four hours, and participants will be notified by email and/or SMS by 4:00 pm the day prior, and directly before the event starts allowing time to adjust usage. The Critical Peak rate plan is designed for customers who can respond to the notification by shifting their usage as much as possible during the four-hour period between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm. Up to a maximum of 18 peak events could be called between November 1 and March 31 and can be only called on weekdays and up to three on weekends (statutory holidays are excluded). Outside peak events and winter season, your rate will always be lower. This means your savings will add up when you're paying a lower rate and there are no peal events. A registered MyAccount is required to participate in this plan.

We encourage you to participate for the full year to experience potential savings on your bill, but you can switch back to the Small General or General (with Demand Charges) rate plans at any time, without penalty. If your business location moves during the pilot, participation at your current address will end and you are required to fill out a new application for your new location.

This voluntary rate trial will run from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025. 

We are accepting applications for this rate pilot. To apply for business Time-of-Use Rate Pilot or Critical Peak Pricing Rate Pilot, please complete this application form. 

Yes. Your account data, including energy use information and savings, will be kept confidential. NS Power takes the privacy of its customers very seriously. For further information on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information, please see our Privacy Policy.

Our existing Time-of-Day (TOD) rate works for customers who install an Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) unit in their homes. TOD rates work by billing a rate more reflective of the actual cost of making and delivering power at different times, meaning power is cheapest overnight and on weekends and holidays when overall demand on the electricity system is lower. Power is also more expensive during winter days, when demand is the highest. 

The Time-of-Day Rate Plans Pilot program is a new pilot that runs through October 31, 2024. Under this pilot, customers do not need to install an ETS and choose the plan that works for their lifestyle. These plans provide opportunities for customers to save money on their annual power bill by reducing or shifting their energy use from peak hours when demand is high for electricity, to off-peak hours when demand is low.

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