How to save on solar and demand price plans

Saving on solar and demand price plans

Similar to our time-of-day price plans, our solar and demand price plans offer price breaks for customers who can shift their energy use to off-peak hours and keep their household demand for energy low by using appliances one at a time.

• Customer Generation Plan – For customers who are able to maintain their demand at moderate levels. Save by actively tracking and managing your energy use and using most energy during off-peak hours.  

• Average Demand Plan – For customers who can shift energy use to off-peak hours but don’t want to worry about occasional spikes in demand. 

• Time-of-Use Export Plan – No monthly demand charge. Save by using energy you’ve generated and limiting your use of grid energy to off-peak hours.   

• Electric Vehicle Export Plan – No monthly demand charge. If you have rooftop solar and an electric vehicle, you can save by charging overnight during super off-peak hours. 

• Residential Demand Price Plan Pilot – The lowest residential prices we offer. Save by staggering the usage of your larger electrical appliances during on-peak hours and using as many large appliances during off-peak hours as possible. No rooftop solar required. 

What is demand and why does it matter?

Demand is the amount of power your home uses at any given point in time. SRP's demand charges are based on demand measured during 30-minute intervals during on-peak hours. The Customer Generation Plan bills on the highest 30-minute on-peak interval during the month, while the Average Demand Plan averages the daily maximum demands over the month. To avoid high demand charges, stagger your use of large electrical appliances during on-peak periods and use as many of them during off-peak hours as possible.

Peak demand and solar

To save on a demand plan, it’s important to avoid pulling energy from SRP’s grid during peak hours. Your house will pull power from the grid anytime your energy use exceeds what you’ve generated. During peak hours, grid energy is most expensive because that’s when demand is highest. To avoid pulling energy from the grid when rates are highest, limit your energy use during peak hours – use major electrical appliances either before or after instead.

Benefits of battery storage

Pairing batteries with solar panels can help you reduce your bill even more. Batteries store excess power for future use. By tapping into stored power instead of pulling power from the grid, you can save on energy costs. If you’re on a demand plan, battery storage may help you minimize your on-peak demand. 

Utility-scale battery storage

In 2021, SRP installed a 25-megawatt battery storage facility at the Bolster Substation in Peoria. These batteries can store and supply energy to power approximately 5,600 typical residential homes. Similar projects are in the works throughout the Phoenix area.  

Find out how much power you use