Con Edison hits millions of Americans with automatic surcharge but there’s a calculated way to avoid the increase
A MAJOR metropolitan energy provider has implemented price increases just in time for the high-use summer season.
Con Edison – an electric, gas, and steam provider in the New York City and Westchester area – added a time-of-use surcharge for residents.
Con Edison uses the time-of-use surcharge to regulate the amount of energy households and commercial businesses use at peak times.
The rates changed in June and are in effect until September 1.
Customers can save on their energy bills by changing their use to different times of day.
During the summer, Con Edison charges less during off-peak hours and at least double the average rate during peak and super-peak times.
There are ways around the energy price increases.
AVOIDING ENERGY INCREASES
Turning on large appliances like air conditioners or televisions during off-peak hours – between midnight to 8am on weekdays – will save homeowners money on their energy bills.
So, sleeping from midnight to 8am with the air conditioner on will not dramatically increase energy prices.
Using big appliances during peak and super-peak times will eat away at energy savings.
Con Edison charges double the usual rates from 8am to midnight on weekdays.
The energy provider increases surcharges even further between 2pm and 6pm on weekdays.
Commenters on Reddit also found other ways to save money on energy bills.
In a thread created to talk about the time-of-use changes, energy customers suggested setting air conditioning to timers, adopting solar power, using heat pumps and electric heat, and buying smaller homes.
“If your living situation is a 600-1000 (square foot) apartment with central gas or boiler heat, no solar, one or two window AC units, the amount you’ll save could easily be wiped out if you forget to turn off your AC a few times during summer super peak,” one commenter suggested.
The surcharges and cheap rates are because of New York’s constant changes in energy supply during the summer.
NEW YORK’S POWER SUPPLY
New York City and the surrounding metro area continued trends toward more renewable energy sources and less energy-dependent appliances.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the city is using less energy than peak rates in 2018.
The agency also reports that the city used more solar power in March 2023 than it did in March 2022.
Energy costs remained stagnant for customers in the change as the city transitioned away from fossil fuels for energy output.
New York still has a long way to go to meet its climate goals – the energy mix is still more reliant on methane than any other source.
The U.S. Sun reported on other energy saving – here is a way for gas stove users to save money.
Also, here is why customers may want to update their appliances.
