Peak Time Rebates

Based on results from PGE’s pilot program, participating customers saved an average of $2 to $3 per Peak Time Event.* Events are triggered by weather conditions or power prices. PGE anticipates that there could be about 5 to 6 events per season.

* Your actual savings will vary, so there is no guarantee of savings.

During a Peak Time Event

• Minimize appliance use, which typically account for 13% of total energy use. Avoid running your dishwasher, clothes washer, dryer and other electric appliances during Peak Time Events.
• Prepare by plugging in all your electronic devices, such as cellphones, tablets, and laptops, in the morning before peak hours. Once they've been fully charged, unplug their chargers during peak hours to avoid wasting power.
• Install a programmable or smart thermostat and schedule it so your electric heating system runs less during Peak Time Events. Make sure to get one that lets you program it on specific days of the week.

Stay warm on cold days with our favorite low- and no-cost winter tips that keep your home comfortable and help save energy. If you’ve received a high bill and want to learn about your options, we’re here to help.

Keep the warm air in

• Turn off ventilation fans in the kitchen and bathroom after about 10 minutes so that they don’t pull the warm air out of the house.
• Close curtains at night to stop heat loss and use insulated drapes, especially if you have single-pane windows.
• Seal air leaks with caulk and weather stripping around exterior doors or windows to block out the cold.
• Close your fireplace damper and doors when not in use (make sure the fireplace cools completely after a fire before you close the damper).

What you measure, you can manage

• Use our free online Energy Tracker^SM tool to track your electricity use by hour, day or more.
• Set up text or email notifications to get weekly estimated bill amounts, mid-month high-bill alerts and more.

Get more tips on how to stay comfortable for less.

Make your appliances work for you

• Schedule regular maintenance to help your heating system run more efficiently. Learn more.
• Use the Energy Saver mode on your clothes washer and dishwasher.
• Wash laundry in cold water.
• Run your dishwasher only when it’s full and let dishes air dry.
• Take quick showers instead of baths.

Practice thermostat control

• The colder it is outside, the more energy it takes to keep the temperature the same inside. So, each degree you lower your thermostat in the winter saves an estimated 2 percent on your heating bill.
• Always remember to stay comfortable and do what’s right for you. You might want to try setting the thermostat to 68 degrees when you’re awake and 60 when asleep or gone.
• Avoid trying to heat up a room faster by turning up the thermostat very high. This energy-wasting myth doesn’t help speed up heating a room, and just wastes energy. Learn more.
• Upgrade to a smart thermostat. They make saving energy automatic. Our programs make them affordable.
• If you have baseboard heaters or wall heaters, close the door and don’t heat unused rooms, unless they show signs of mold or mildew.
• If you have a ducted, forced-air system, it’s not a good idea to close off individual registers because it can make your system run less efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is PGE launching Peak Time Rebates?

We’re committed to offering you new and exciting ways to save energy and support renewables, on your terms. It’s part of our commitment to introduce new energy programs that inspire a future fueled by clean energy that’s still affordable, reliable and reduces the need for additional power plants. Peak Time Rebates is about identifying and shifting energy use when energy demand is at its highest, as is the cost of energy. When customers shift their energy use during these Peak Time Events, they can earn rebates in the form of an on-bill credit.

What if I don’t participate in a Peak Time Event?

There is no penalty for not participating. You can always participate in the next event. Remember, though, you must participate to earn a rebate on your next bill.

How often do I have to participate in Peak Time Events?

You decide how many Peak Time Events you want to join in on. If it’s all of them, great. If you’re finding it hard to find time to shift, that’s okay too.

How much can I save?

Based on results from our pilot program, participating customers saved an average of $2 to $3 per Peak Time Event*.

*Your actual savings will vary and there is no guarantee of savings.

How are my savings calculated?

A “baseline” will be calculated using the average hourly usage from the 5 highest usage days over the 10-day period prior to the PTR event. This exclude weekends, holidays and any other past Peak Time Event days. During the Peak Time Event, every kilowatt hour you reduce below that baseline will be used in calculating your rebate. You can earn $1 for every kWh saved.

I did my best to shift my energy use but didn’t receive a rebate? How come?

First off, thank you for being in Peak Time Rebates. We want you to be successful and that’s why we created the Energy savings tips section on this page. It contains tips to help you shift your energy during Peak Time Events as well as how to keep your home comfortable and save energy throughout the year.

These tips are designed to make it easy for you to shift and reduce your energy. It’s amazing how when we all reduce our energy use together, it makes a big difference by keeping energy prices affordable and enables more renewable sources of energy.

I wasn’t even home to use energy during the Peak Time Event. Why didn’t I earn a rebate?

There are a few reasons why this may have happened:

• If you’re normally not home during that time of day, your typical energy use during that time may be low already. Your Peak Time Rebate is based on whether you used less than you normally use during those hours of an unusually hot or unusually cold day. So even if you didn’t use much energy during the Peak Time Event, if you didn’t use less than you normally use, you won’t earn a Peak Time Rebate.
• In addition, some appliances use energy even when you aren’t there. If you weren’t home during the Peak Time Event and did not receive a rebate, you can check out savings tips to help reduce your energy usage — when you’re at home or away.

Will I be able to view my data?

Peak Time Rebates historical event data (savings and non-savings based on participation) will be available after the first Peak Time Event from your account summary.

Where and how will credits appear on my bill, and how often?

Credits received will show as “peak time credits” on the next bill you receive after the Peak Time Event.

How can I see my energy use and compare it to other days?

There are a few ways you can view your energy use online. For information specific to your Peak Time Events and energy, you can sign in to your account summary. You can sign up for Energy Tracker from your account summary page, which shows you when and how you’re using energy, and how to save. It’s free, online and easy to use. And coming soon: Peak Time Rebates historical event data (savings and non-savings based on participation) will appear on your account summary.