With the help of an advanced programmable thermostat, you can use Tampa Electric's Energy PlannerSM program to control the operation of one or more central heating and cooling systems, electric water heaters and pool pumps when varying prices for electricity are lower than the average price of 9.706 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)* customers pay under the residential service rate. There is no cost to participate in the program and you have the opportunity to lower the cost of your electric bill. That’s not all…we’ll even perform a free home energy audit and give you eight energy-saving light bulbs just for participating.
Energy Planner offers four pricing rates for electricity (Low, Medium, High and Critical). The price you pay for electricity is based on your usage, time of day and the day of the week.
You will know when these rates are available based on the following timelines:
Energy Planner enables you to take advantage of electric rates that are less than the average 9.706 cents per kWh residential customers pay under the residential service rate. The lower rates will be available approximately 87 percent of the time.
A “critical” rate can become active at any time and reflects the increased cost of providing electricity during times of extremely high demand. The critical rate will not exceed 1.5 percent of the total hours in a year. You can save on your electric bill by programming appliances to automatically shut off if the critical rate becomes active.
Using a Tampa Electric-installed programmable thermostat, you set any of the following appliances to automatically respond to varying prices for electricity:
If you choose to participate in the Energy Planner program, Tampa Electric will install – at no cost – a programmable thermostat inside your home, replacing your current thermostat. Up to three thermostats can be installed to control up to eight appliances. Energy Planner puts you in control of your energy purchases. You select the balance between comfort and savings that best fits your lifestyle.
The Customer Charge section of your electric bill will display the Energy Planner rate – RSVP 113, and the amount of electricity (in kilowatt-hours) used at each level: Low, Medium, High and Critical. The last line item displays a Fuel Charge, which is applied consistently across the four levels. View this sample bill.
Call 813-275-3909 to speak with an Energy Management Services representative.
Energy Planner is designed for single-family homes with a landline (Voice over Internet or cell phones are not compatible). Multi-family, mobile and manufactured homes are ineligible.
*The price of 9.706 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is based on an average residential customer using 1,200 kWh per month on Tampa Electric's Residential Service (RS) two-tiered fuel and energy rate. The price includes the following Florida Public Service Commission-approved charges as of January 2012 (based on 1,200 kWh per month): for fuel (4.007 cents), the base energy rate (4.662 cents), capacity (.276 cents), environmental (.460 cents) and conservation (.302 cents).
