Shifting peak hours in Fort Collins: What’s changing and why.

By Isabella Hemness

The Ramspondents

Fort Collins Utilities is adjusting its time of day (TOD) electricity pricing, making another step in the city’s ongoing effort to align energy use and costs with demand and environmental goals. This change went into effect on Oct. 1. The non-summer peak hours window shifted to 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on weekdays, while hours outside of that window remain less expensive throughout the rest of the day, and on weekends and holidays. 

These changes, though small, can have significant effects on household energy bills and Fort Collins energy use patterns. The new hours are within the period when demand is highest during the fall and winter months. This reflects when many residents return home, turn on their heating, cook, clean, and use the majority of their electricity. 

To understand the reasoning behind the change, Nick Combs, the Utilities Communications & Marketing manager explained that the city’s current rate structure was designed to reflect this change in usage and the true cost of energy delivery. 

“Starting in October 2018, Fort Collins Utilities transitioned to a different rate structure than what they previously offered,” Combs said. “Instead of paying the same amount of money for all of the energy that you use, you now pay different rates depending on the time of day, the day of the week, and the season.”

He added that the shift was driven with a goal of fairness and accuracy to Fort Collins residents' needs. “Fort Collins Utilities transitioned to this rate in order to charge customers what Fort Collins Utilities believed is the correct price of energy, as the cost to provide energy at different times of the day varies.”

During summer months (May through September) the peak hours are 2 p.m. - 7 p.m. while non-summer months (October through April) have shifted to 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. These rates vary, not just by season but can also fluctuate throughout the year depending on consumption and energy costs

When asked how Fort Collins Utilities determined the 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. peak hours window, Combs explained that the utility relied on long-term consumption data.

“On-peak hours were determined by analyzing residential electric use over 10 years,” he said. “These hours were designed to include the period of time when demand for electricity was the highest. We made the on-peak hours as narrow as possible so customers could choose to avoid them if able and encourage shifting electric use to off-peak hours.”

This approach supports the city’s energy efficiency goals and also gives customers more control. Households that shift their major energy use (like running laundry or cooking) to off-peak hours can significantly lower their bills.

Combs emphasized that Fort Collins Utilities is a cost of service provider which means they cannot legally make a profit. 

“The switch to TOD pricing was not a rate increase,” he clarified. “The rate structure was designed to generate the same amount of revenue annually as the previous system. Off-peak prices are lower than before, while on-peak prices are higher, creating flexibility for customers to control their costs.”

Additionally the results so far have been promising. “A study after the first year on TOD showed that Fort Collins Utilities and the majority of residential customers paid less overall due to a decrease in electricity use,” Combs said. “Less overall electricity use—especially during on-peak hours—could lead to long-term cost savings as less new renewable energy will need to be purchased.”

Some Fort Collins residents have begun adjusting their routines to reduce their energy costs. Jenny Kim, a resident of Fort Collins, discussed how she incorporated peak hours into her daily life. 

“Yes,” she said. “Every day I schedule charging my car and doing laundry between peak hours.”

She went on to explain how she prepared for the change in October, “I just had my Alexa remind me to plug in my car at nine instead of seven and we don’t run the dishwasher or do laundry during peak hours.”

Fort Collins Utilities recommends a few simple strategies to adapt to this new schedule:

As Fort Collins continues to refine its time of day (peak hours) system, the city remains focused on balancing cost, reliability and sustainability. 

“Less overall electricity use, especially during on-peak hours, could lead to long-term cost savings as less new renewable energy will need to be purchased,” Combs said.

The city’s evolving framework mirrors a broader truth about modern energy, when we use electricity is as critical as how much we use.

Isabella Hemness is a student at Colorado State University, studying journalism and international studies. With journalism experience through classes such as Newswriting, Video Editing and Advanced Reporting and an interest in community engagement and factual storytelling, Isabella works to inform and entertain through her writing. As a member of the Ramspondents, Isabella seeks to inform the population of CSU, Fort Collins, and beyond with accuracy and creativity.