Residential tiered rate with time-of-day pricing
The tiered rate with time-of-day pricing is an optional rate plan that became available to residential customers in June 2024.
On this plan, electricity is more expensive during the evening and cheapest overnight.
How this rate plan works
You're charged a lower (Tier 1) price for electricity up to a certain threshold in each billing period – about 675 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month – and a higher (Tier 2) price for all electricity use beyond that threshold.
Then, we apply a discount of 5 cents per kWh to all electricity that was used overnight (11 p.m. to 7 a.m.) and a surcharge of 5 cents per kWh to all electricity that was used during the on-peak period (4 to 9 p.m.).
No discount or surcharge is applied to electricity used during the other hours of the day.
Time-of-day pricing applies year-round and every day of the week.
Benefits of this rate plan
- Electric vehicle (EV) owners could save money on this plan if they can charge their EV at home overnight.
- Other customers could save if they're able to shift some of their household usage to overnight.
Time-of-day pricing helps balance the capacity of our electricity system throughout the day, reducing the need to build new infrastructure to support peak demand.
Looking for ways to save with time-of-day pricing? Check out our time-of-day tips.
What you'll see on your bill
Energy Charges |
Tier 1 10.97 cents per kWh for all usage under the Tier 1 threshold, e.g.
Tier 2 14.08 cents per kWh over the Tier 1 threshold. |
| On-peak surcharge | +5 cents per kWh of electricity used during the on-peak period: 4 to 9 p.m. local time |
| Overnight discount | -5 cents per kWh of electricity used during the overnight period: 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. local time |
| Off-peak | No discount or surcharge for electricity used during the off-peak period: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 to 11 p.m. local time |
Basic Charge A small, daily amount that partially recovers fixed customer-related costs, including customer service channels, metering, billing, payment processing, collections, and distribution system costs that are customer-related (electrical lines and transformers). |
22.53 cents per day. |
| Minimum Charge | The Basic Charge. |
For help understanding your bill, check out these resources:
- The elements of your bill, explained
- Sample bill on the tiered rate with time-of-day pricing [PDF, 289 KB]
- This plan is a combination of Rate Schedules 1101 and 2101 of the Electric Tariff.
Estimate your costs on this rate plan
Log in and use our rate estimator to compare your costs on each rate plan based on your past usage.
Change your rate
Want to update your account? It's quick and easy to change your rate online.
Eligibility
This rate plan is available to almost all residential customers.
The following residential account types are not eligible:
- Common areas of multi-residential buildings.
- Customers who don't have a connected smart meter that communicates remotely with BC Hydro.
Farm customers are eligible for a similar rate. See residential exempt rate with time-of-day pricing.
Electric vehicle metering only
If you have a separate electricity meter at home that's specifically used for charging an EV, you have the option to choose this rate plan for your EV meter only, keeping your main household meter on another rate plan.
To add a separate electricity meter to your home, hire a contractor and follow our express connection process.
- Sample bill with household and separate meter on the tiered rate with time-of-day pricing [PDF, 208 KB]
- Sample bill with only the EV meter on the tiered rate with time-of-day pricing [PDF, 273 KB]
Do you live in an apartment/condo building?
Generally, this rate plan isn't recommended for customers in apartment or condo buildings. Unless your electricity use includes EV charging, the opportunity to save money on this plan is limited for smaller dwellings including apartment and condo units. Also, some buildings have noise restrictions that would limit residents from running their dishwasher or doing laundry in the late evening and overnight.
For other ways to save in apartments, check out programs like Peak Saver and Team Power Smart to earn rewards on your bill. We're also continuing to develop additional residential rate plans.
Please note that in the event of differences between the details noted on this page and the official Electric Tariff issued by BC Hydro, the official Electric Tariff will prevail.