---
title: "Time-of-Use and Fixed-Rate Calculator"
description: "Compare your own energy use and rates with the complete assumptions shown."
url: https://electricitycostbystate.com/rate-plan-calculator/
updated: 2026-09-27
site: "Electricity Cost by State"
language: en-US
---

# Time-of-Use and Fixed-Rate Calculator

Compare a flat rate with two or three price periods, including separate monthly fees. Enter period energy directly or allocate it across operating hours. Starting prices are illustrative.

Your time-of-use plan estimate

$189.00 for the modeled month

1,000.00 kWh, with entered monthly fees. A positive difference favors time-of-use; a negative difference favors the flat plan.

- **Variable energy**: $174.00
- **Time-of-use fixed fee**: $15.00
- **Flat plan total**: $195.00
- **Flat minus time-of-use**: $6.00

Your entered prices. Unentered taxes, credits, tiers, demand charges and minimum-bill rules are excluded. This is not a full utility bill quotation.

**Entered or allocated energy by price period**

| Period | kWh | ¢/kWh | Energy cost |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Off-peak | 500.00 | 10.00 | $50.00 |
| Shoulder | 300.00 | 18.00 | $54.00 |
| Peak | 200.00 | 35.00 | $70.00 |

Weighted variable rate: **17.4¢/kWh**. Effective rate including the entered time-of-use fee: 18.9¢/kWh.

## Usage break-even

The plans cost the same at **0.00 kWh/month**. Time-of-use is cheaper at every positive usage level with this mix.

This holds each period's share of kWh, all prices and both fixed fees constant. Seasonal price changes, tiers and credits can change the result.

## Move peak use to off-peak

Moving 100.00 kWh saves **$25.00**, for a time-of-use total of **$164.00**. A negative saving increases cost. Total energy and fixed fees stay the same.

Time-of-use already costs no more than the flat plan before shifting. No shift is needed to match it.

[Download CSV](https://electricitycostbystate.com/rate-plan-calculator/?mode=monthly&off_kwh=500&shoulder_kwh=300&peak_kwh=200&off_rate=10&shoulder_rate=18&peak_rate=35&fixed=15&flat_rate=18&flat_fixed=15&shift=100&total_kwh=1000&weekday_days=22&other_days=8&wd_off_h=16&wd_shoulder_h=3&wd_peak_h=5&weekend_rule=off&other_hours=24&we_off_h=16&we_shoulder_h=3&we_peak_h=5&format=csv)

The CSV includes the entered assumptions. Scenario URLs contain these inputs and may remain in browser history or hosting logs.

## Utility schedule examples

These official PG&E sheets show why weekend rules need to be checked. They describe time windows only; the calculator's prices are not PG&E price quotes or presets. Baseline allowances, credits, customer category, generation provider and other bill rules need a separate full-plan review.

**Time-period sheets checked September 27, 2026**

| Schedule | Peak window | Weekends and holidays |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [PG&E E-TOU-C](https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_SCHEDS_E-TOU-C.pdf) Sheet 5 · effective 2026-03-01 | 16:00-21:00 every day | Same period definitions every day |
| [PG&E E-TOU-D](https://www.pge.com/tariffs/assets/pdf/tariffbook/ELEC_SCHEDS_E-TOU-D.pdf) Sheet 4 · effective 2026-03-01 | 17:00-20:00 non-holiday Monday-Friday | Off-peak all day on weekends and the schedule's named, legally observed holidays |

E-TOU-C uses 4–9 p.m. peak every day. E-TOU-D uses 5–8 p.m. peak on non-holiday weekdays and off-peak all weekend; use its sheet's named, legally observed holidays. Both distinguish June–September summer pricing from October–May winter pricing. Check the sheet for your service period.

The calculator does not assign calendar holidays automatically. Count days using your actual tariff, then enter operating hours within its periods. If seasonal rates differ within your billing period, calculate the portions separately with correctly apportioned fixed charges.

## Use variable tariff prices here

EIA state averages divide residential revenue by energy sold. They already spread fixed-charge revenue across kWh. Adding another fixed monthly fee to that average would count it twice. Use your plan's variable prices and separate fees for this comparison.

Marginal savings use the rate in the period where electricity is avoided; fixed fees usually remain. Check whether taxes, minimum bills, export credits or demand charges also change before treating this comparison as a complete bill forecast.

[Find the variable rate on your bill](https://electricitycostbystate.com/guides/how-to-read-electricity-bill/#rate-meaning) · [State benchmarks and source dates](https://electricitycostbystate.com/electricity-rates/) · [Estimate an appliance's energy use](https://electricitycostbystate.com/calculator/)