If you're a PECO customer — especially one with solar panels, a battery, or an electric vehicle — there's an optional program that could meaningfully lower your electricity bill. It's called Time-of-Use (TOU) Pricing, and when paired with solar, it's one of the most powerful tools available to homeowners in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
What Is PECO's TOU Pricing?
Standard PECO rates charge you the same price for electricity no matter what time of day you use it. Time-of-Use pricing is different: your generation supply rate varies based on when you consume electricity. The goal is to shift demand away from the peak afternoon hours when the grid is most strained.
PECO's TOU program has three pricing tiers:
- On-Peak (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Weekdays) — Highest cost. Reduce usage if possible.
- Off-Peak (All other hours) — Standard cost.
- Super Off-Peak (Midnight – 6:00 AM, Every Day) — Lowest cost. Best time to use power.
Holidays recognized by PJM (the regional grid operator) are treated as off-peak days.
Why Solar Owners in SE PA Should Pay Attention
Here's where it gets interesting for solar customers. Your solar panels generate the most electricity between roughly 10 AM and 4 PM — which overlaps with the on-peak window of 2–6 PM. That means your solar system is producing power during the most expensive part of the day.
Under TOU pricing, this works in your favor in two ways:
- Your solar generation covers your home's needs during peak hours, so you're not buying expensive electricity from PECO.
- Any excess power you export back to the grid is credited at the higher on-peak generation rate under PECO's net metering rules.
The result? Your weighted average cost of electricity across all 24 hours drops significantly — because you're drawing from the grid mostly during off-peak and super off-peak periods.
The EV Advantage: Charge at Night, Save All Year
Electric vehicle owners are among the biggest winners under TOU pricing. Simply by scheduling your car to charge overnight during super off-peak hours (midnight to 6 AM), you can cut your EV charging costs roughly in half compared to on-peak rates.
Based on recent PECO generation rates:
- Super Off-Peak rate: approximately $0.043/kWh
- On-Peak rate: approximately $0.089/kWh
That's a 52% reduction in generation cost per kWh. For a typical EV charging 300 kWh per month, that can translate to over $100 in annual savings on generation alone.
Battery Storage Makes TOU Even More Powerful
If you have a battery system like Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, or Sol-Ark, you can take TOU savings to the next level. Charge your battery from solar during the day, then use stored energy during peak hours instead of buying from PECO at the highest rate. This is called time-of-use arbitrage — and it's one of the most effective ways to maximize your solar investment in the PECO service territory.
Is TOU Right for You?
TOU pricing works best for PECO customers who can shift at least some of their usage away from the 2–6 PM weekday window. It's a strong fit if you own solar panels, have a battery, charge an EV at home, or work a schedule where you're away during peak hours.
Want to know if TOU pricing could save you money? Contact Pennstar Solar or call 610-900-6405 — we'll help you evaluate whether TOU makes sense alongside your solar and battery setup.