Jim Baber wrote:
If your Time Of Day peak vs off peak rates are like mine, where the
wintertime rates do not vary much from peak ($0.114720/kWh) to off
peak ($0.08966/kWh), it won't matter much. BUT, come summertime my
rates jump drastically, with a peak of ($0.29372/kWh) and off peak of
($0.08664/kWh) at the lowest usage tier (under 17 kWh a day).

I do NOT fit in the lowest tier since I averaged 81 kWh a day from
June 15 through September 15. I would have used 30 kWh of the very
costly Tier 5 power which is at peak of ($0.51031/kWh) and off peak
($0.30323/kWh). I also would have used a lot more in the less but
still exorbitant Tier 2 through Tier 4 groups of rates that would also
apply to some of my 81 kWh between my best and worst summer rates.

TOD rates don't apply on weekends and that helps.

In my own situation I have my own 10 kW solar system that helps a lot,
and generally covers all of my power bill except for a fixed daily
meter and connection fee to stay hooked up to the power.

It does not generate all of the power we use, but because it does
produce most of it's power during the peak time of the TOD billing
rates it does generate far more than it's actual $ value as far as
credit towards the bill. See "www.baber.org"

Jim Baber "


Chris Friesen wrote:

Clearfield Consumer wrote:

Thanks for the replies.

While I do have "Time Of Day" service, someone in another group
mentioned that the water heaters Smart control unit "learns" to adapt
to useage and the timer may be interfering with it's ability to do that


The "smart" control algorithm is on the webpage you linked:

"Every time the lower element is energized the controls lower the water
temperature by three-tenths of one degree, but never lower than 115°F.
Every time the upper element is energized the controls raise the water
temperature by three degrees, but never above the temperature set by the
user."

Basically it keeps the water temp between 115 and whatever temperature
is set by the user, at a temperature that is as low as possible while
still supplying enough hot water.

I'd guess you'd be better off keeping the heater off during the
expensive part of the day.

Of course, there's nothing stopping you from trying it for a few months,
then switching it back the other way and comparing your power usage.

Chris