SCE save power days

[MikeInRialto]

I just realized that for those of us with SCE, it is wise to target your biggest use between 2-6pm (Run your AC, wash&dry, or anything that consumes a lot of electricity). Then when the Save Powe Days come along (about 10 pet summer) try not to use anything between 2-6 - that way you'll be able to reap some good credits. They measure the difference between the previous 5 days to figure out credits.

[sensij]

That may be true on a standard baseline+tiers rate plan. With no foreknowledge of when the Save Power Day will come (except loosely based on a forecasted heat waves), the TOU cost of running stuff during peak hours all the time to establish that baseline will not get recovered by the higher Save Power credit.

[J.P.M.]

That may be true on a standard baseline+tiers rate plan. With no foreknowledge of when the Save Power Day will come (except loosely based on a forecasted heat waves), the TOU cost of running stuff during peak hours all the time to establish that baseline will not get recovered by the higher Save Power credit.

I'd add to that: For as often as those days come around, seems a poor bet or reason to maximize use at peak times for saving a few bucks on a few days. I don't know about SCE frequency of such days, but I had 2 (I think) last year, and 1(I believe) the year before that, and none I'm aware of this year.

[silversaver]

https://www.sce.com/wps/portal/home/...vZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

If you are a solar owner, don't bother looking into those savings.

[jflorey2]

That may be true on a standard baseline+tiers rate plan. With no foreknowledge of when the Save Power Day will come (except loosely based on a forecasted heat waves), the TOU cost of running stuff during peak hours all the time to establish that baseline will not get recovered by the higher Save Power credit.

Agreed.

At those costs (75 cents/kwhr) it may make sense to run on battery if available. Taking a simplistic case (Costco $100 T-105 batteries, 500 cycles to 50%) you'd be spending about 30 cents/kwhr on batteries - provided they lasted all 500 cycles over the course of their calendar life. Might be viable if there are a lot of Save Power Days per year (more than about 50 kwhr worth) or if the batteries serve some other useful purpose (like providing a UPS function in areas of unreliable power.) Not really viable as a single purpose system though.*

(* - The Orison thing is a good example of a single purpose system.)

[sensij]

[/URL]

If you are a solar owner, don't bother looking into those savings.

Huh? I don't see anything on the linked page that suggests solar customers are not eligible. I know for sure that solar customers are eligible for SDG&E's equivalent program.

[silversaver]

Huh? I don't see anything on the linked page that suggests solar customers are not eligible. I know for sure that solar customers are eligible for SDG&E's equivalent program.

I'm sorry, it might be a great program for budget solar owner.

How about Summer Discount Plan? Cut off your AC during peak hours and save even more!

[MikeInRialto]

I'm on the Summer Discount plan as well. I chose the option of allowing SCE to turn off my AC 15 min out of every 30 from 2-6. My AC never runs for more than 15 min anyway so at most I would go 30 minutes without AC. $12 credit added to my bill June, July, Aug, Sept, and Oct - as if yet my AC has never been shut off.

[silversaver]

I'm on the Summer Discount plan as well. I chose the option of allowing SCE to turn off my AC 15 min out of every 30 from 2-6. My AC never runs for more than 15 min anyway so at most I would go 30 minutes without AC. $12 credit added to my bill June, July, Aug, Sept, and Oct - as if yet my AC has never been shut off.

How is your 4.2kW system work out for you? I'm assuming that you are under TOU-D-A plan as well. How is the credit offset your usage? I'm not sure if you can select both Summer Discount plan and Save Power Days, but it won't hurt if you participate the Save Power Days. There’s no penalty for not doing so; however, the more energy you save during a Save Power Day, the more you can earn in bill credits.

I have known few people under Summer Discount Plan and SCE hasn't yet shut off their ACs.

[MikeInRialto]

How is your 4.2kW system work out for you? I'm assuming that you are under TOU-D-A plan as well. How is the credit offset your usage? I'm not sure if you can select both Summer Discount plan and Save Power Days, but it won't hurt if you participate the Save Power Days. There’s no penalty for not doing so; however, the more energy you save during a Save Power Day, the more you can earn in bill credits.

I have known few people under Summer Discount Plan and SCE hasn't yet shut off their ACs.

Wanted to wait until I got my July (biggest) bill before rpelting to this. The system is working out GREAT for me. I am not on any TOU plan, my June bill (out of pocket) was under $4 and my July bill is under $3 - in July there were 7 Save Power Days which I participated in 5.

SCE's billing is rocket science to me. Jan-Aug my out of pocket bill is just under $11/month. And yet July is under $3 & I am still showing just over $100 credit.

My thermastat is never (other than Save Energy Days 2-6pm) higher than 76.

I used 1200+ kwh for July and paid $3 - ALL SMILES!

[silversaver]

Wanted to wait until I got my July (biggest) bill before rpelting to this. The system is working out GREAT for me. I am not on any TOU plan, my June bill (out of pocket) was under $4 and my July bill is under $3 - in July there were 7 Save Power Days which I participated in 5.

SCE's billing is rocket science to me. Jan-Aug my out of pocket bill is just under $11/month. And yet July is under $3 & I am still showing just over $100 credit.

My thermastat is never (other than Save Energy Days 2-6pm) higher than 76.

I used 1200+ kwh for July and paid $3 - ALL SMILES!

You need to be on TOU regardless

[MikeInRialto]

With SCE, I don't think we HAVE to be on TOU until 2018 or 2019.

[silversaver]

With SCE, I don't think we HAVE to be on TOU until 2018 or 2019.

You don't have to be in any TOU plan, it is just better for solar owners.

[MikeInRialto]

My understanding with TOU plans is that that you lose any credits remainingat the end of your relevant period. On standard plan you can get money sent back to you or just leave it in your account as a $ credit. After my heaviest ninth I'm still showing a $100 credit, which I won't need to use to much of; in which case, TOU doesn't look too benefit me as much.

[silversaver]

My understanding with TOU plans is that that you lose any credits remainingat the end of your relevant period. On standard plan you can get money sent back to you or just leave it in your account as a $ credit. After my heaviest ninth I'm still showing a $100 credit, which I won't need to use to much of; in which case, TOU doesn't look too benefit me as much.

Either way SCE will only pay you around $0.03 per kWh you over produced, not what it shows on your credit balance.