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Madison rolls out time-of-use billing format and customer tools; ordinance updates on solar/service-charge deferred
Summary
Madison’s electric utility has converted meters and billing to support time-of-use (TOU) rates, published a new TOU bill form and an explanatory web page. Customers may opt in to TOU for a 12-month commitment; staff stressed rates themselves have not changed unless a customer elects TOU.
Madison’s electric utility staff reported on April 14 that they have completed technical work to support time-of-use (TOU) billing and begun issuing the new bill form to customers. Staff said approximately half of accounts had received the new bill layout by the time of the meeting and a public web page (rosenet.org/tou) explains the program and peak/off-peak periods.
Utility staff emphasized that existing flat rates have not changed and that TOU is an optional rate structure customers must elect for a 12-month commitment. ‘‘Your consumption and your bill total will be exactly the same. Your rate will be the same. The number that we use to get your bill total will be the same. We're just showing it to you in a different way,’’ said Jim Trimble of the electric utility, describing the sample bill and the new online breakdown by peak, off-peak and regular hours.
Staff described the program’s objective as reducing costly capacity charges by shifting discretionary electricity use away from system peak hours. The page and sample bill show the three tiers and the utility said the peak window represents about 20 hours per week (roughly 12% of weekly hours). Staff said an analysis of available meter data found that if all customers had been on TOU for a year, average revenue would have increased by about 1.4% absent behavioral change — meaning customers who shift use away from peak hours could lower their bills.
Operational details explained to council members included: meters that can support TOU have been converted; customers selecting TOU must stay on the rate for 12 months; the utility will not separate the service charge from the energy credit for solar customers at this time (staff said that proposed change raised credit/credit-offset complications), and ordinance language to codify solar/TOU clarifications will be introduced at a future meeting.
Utility staff urged outreach and education. Council members suggested placing a prominent link or notice on the bill and noted many residents do not visit the borough website; staff said the utility will include TOU information in the next budget mailer and at public events such as the April 26 Green and Clean fair and the EV Expo.
No ordinance to change rates was adopted at the meeting; staff will return with the ordinance amendment addressing service-charge and solar credit language at a later meeting.
