So we have no reason for conserving power during hours of high demand. Market-based pricing aims at getting you to think twice before you use power during those expensive peaks. In the winter, your rate for extra kilowatt-hours declines. In California, that could reduce energy costs by 12 percent over the summer. So far, however, these programs haven't persuaded many people to run their washing machines at night.
Many businesses already pay on real-time.
How consumers like real-time pricing remains to be seen. Georgia Power tried it 12 years ago and dropped it. But Gulf Power rolled out newer technology last year and thinks it has a hit. She says that customers are saving 15 percent, which more than covers their participation cost. Puget Sound Energy in Bellevue, Wash., has enrolled more than 420,000 customers in a smart-meter program.