What are off-peak electricity times?

There isn't one for the whole US. Off-peak prices apply only on a time-of-use or similar time-based rate, each utility sets its own on-peak and off-peak hours in that rate, and the schedule can change with the season and the day of the week. Check your utility's time-of-use rate, or ask your utility, for its hours.

What other time-based electricity rates are there?

Besides time-of-use, the EIA counts four: real-time pricing, where the price changes hourly or more often with wholesale prices; variable peak pricing, where the on-peak price is set the day before; critical peak pricing, where a much higher price applies for a limited number of hours on event days; and critical peak rebates, where you are paid for cutting use during those hours.

Off-peak electricity times

When electricity is cheaper, how time-of-use rates work, and which utilities have customers on them.

Last updated October 19, 2026

There is no single off-peak time in the US. Off-peak prices apply only if you're on a time-of-use or similar time-based rate, and each utility sets its own schedule, which can change with the season and the day of the week. To find yours, look up your utility's time-of-use rate or ask your utility.

What is off-peak electricity?

Off-peak is the cheaper part of a time-of-use rate. As the EIA defines it, time-of-use is a rate where you pay different prices at different times of day: on-peak prices are higher and off-peak prices lower than the utility's standard rate, on a fixed schedule set in advance by season, day of the week and time of day. Most customers instead pay a price based on the seasonal average cost of supplying power, which doesn't change through the day; utilities offer time-based pricing to encourage conservation and lower peak demand.

The EIA counts four other kinds of time-based rate:

Real-time pricing: the price changes hourly or more often, following wholesale prices a day or an hour ahead.
Variable peak pricing: a time-of-use rate whose on-peak price is set each day, the day before; the off-peak price stays the same.
Critical peak pricing: a much higher price for a limited number of hours on event days the utility calls when wholesale prices are high or the grid is strained, often combined with time-of-use.
Critical peak rebate: on those event days, a rebate for using less than your usual amount.

When are off-peak hours?

They depend on your utility and your rate. Each utility sets its own on-peak and off-peak hours in its time-of-use rate, and the schedule can differ by season and by day of the week. MassOutage doesn't list them: check your utility's time-of-use rate, or ask your utility. Billing by time of day needs a meter that records when you use power: a smart meter records usage at least hourly, and some standard meters also have time-of-use functions.

Time-based rate figures are being loaded from the EIA. Check back shortly.

Off-peak electricity: FAQ

What are off-peak electricity times?: There isn't one for the whole US. Off-peak prices apply only on a time-of-use or similar time-based rate, each utility sets its own on-peak and off-peak hours in that rate, and the schedule can change with the season and the day of the week. Check your utility's time-of-use rate, or ask your utility, for its hours.
What is time-of-use electricity?: Time-of-use is a rate where the price of electricity depends on when you use it. On-peak prices are higher and off-peak prices lower than the utility's standard rate, on a fixed schedule set in advance by season, day of the week and time of day.
What other time-based electricity rates are there?: Besides time-of-use, the EIA counts four: real-time pricing, where the price changes hourly or more often with wholesale prices; variable peak pricing, where the on-peak price is set the day before; critical peak pricing, where a much higher price applies for a limited number of hours on event days; and critical peak rebates, where you are paid for cutting use during those hours.

Enrollment is what each utility reported to the EIA on Form EIA-861: customers billed on a time-based rate, whether or not they shift their use. Rate definitions are the EIA's.

Data from EIA Form 861 (sales, customers, meters and time-based rates), every source we read.