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FAQs

               

Common Questions

Off-Peak/On-Peak rates, sometimes called Time of Use rates, are based on the time of day you use energy and Ameren Missouri’s cost of supplying energy during particular hours. Energy rates are lower during off-peak hours (which vary depending on the plan and time of year) when demand for electricity is lower. However, during on-peak hours (which also vary) when demand is high – rates are higher. Some advanced Off-Peak/On-Peak rates have mid-peak rates (Smart Savers rate option), or a demand charge (Ultimate Savers rate option).
You pay more for using energy during on-peak hours, and less for energy you use during off-peak hours.
Savings will vary by customer. The more energy use you shift to off-peak hours, the more money you might save.
You could see an increase in your monthly energy costs if you do not take the necessary steps to avoid consuming too much energy during peak hours.
Yes. You can choose a new rate up to three times within a 12-month period. After the third switch, your rate choices will be limited to Anytime Users and Evening/Morning Savers for the remainder of the 12-month period.

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Rate Basics

If your meter has a yellow, blue or green label with the words "Type FOCUS AXRe," or "Type E650 S4x," you have an upgraded smart meter.
A Basic rate requires less customer effort for success. Anytime Users and Evening/Morning Savers are Basic rates.
Customers with an AMR meter can choose from Anytime Users or Overnight Savers. Customers with an upgraded AMI-enabled ("smart") meter can choose any rate.
An Advanced rate may require more customer effort for success. Overnight Savers, Smart Savers and Ultimate Savers are Advanced rates.

Savings will vary by customer. The more energy use you shift to off-peak hours, the more potential you have to save on your bill. You could see an increase in your monthly energy costs if you do not take the necessary steps to avoid consuming too much energy during on-peak hours.

Yes. You can choose a new rate up to three times within a 12-month period. After the third switch, your rate choices will be limited to Anytime Users and Evening/Morning Savers for the remainder of the 12-month period.

A demand charge is calculated using the highest hour of energy usage between 6am and 10pm during your monthly billing cycle. The average kW of demand measured during that hour is multiplied by the demand charge rate to determine the charge added to the bill of customers on the Ultimate Savers rate. For example, if your highest hour of usage during November averages to 5 kW, you'd be charged a $16.85 (5 kW x $3.37/kW) demand charge in addition to your other charges. The demand charge rate changes seasonally, so in summer, the demand charge for the same situation would be $40.80 (5 kW x $8.16/kW).

Using the most energy-intensive appliances (such as heating/cooling, electrical vehicle chargers, pool pumps, hot tubs, clothes dryers and dishwashers) within the same hour will likely establish the demand charge. One way to lower your monthly demand charge is to stagger hours during which you use appliances, rather than using all your appliances within the same hour. For instance, programmable thermostats can be programmed to stagger heating/cooling, and some electrical vehicle chargers may be programmed to stagger charging times. The demand charge allows this rate to have the lowest off-peak energy rate of any plan, with the longest off-peak hours.

Each rate has different off-peak and on-peak times, and some of these change during the summer months. Rate details are available at AmerenMissouri.com/RateOptions and during the online rate selection process.

It depends on the rate you choose: Smart Savers and Ultimate Savers have certain holidays "off" which means that all energy use is billed at the off-peak rate on those days. The official holidays are: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve Day, and Christmas Day.

The Ultimate Savers rate does not have on-peak hours on weekends; all usage during weekends is charged at the off-peak rate. However, the demand charge still applies to the highest hour of demand on those days from 6 am to 10pm. The Smart Savers rate does not have on-peak hours on weekends; all usage during weekends is charged at the off-peak or mid-peak rate.

Off-Peak/On-Peak rates are available only to residential customers.
When you log into your account, you will see charts with labels like "appliance breakdown," "energy use by appliance," or "usage breakdown". These reports are created by combining the more precise information from your smart meter with known usage patterns to determine when you're using high-load appliances. Watch this video to learn more.

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is equal to 1,000 watts of electricity used for one hour. For example, leaving a 100-watt light bulb on for 10 hours equals 1 kWh. You are billed for energy use by kWh, so if you use 400 kWh during a billing cycle and your rate is 10 cents/kWh, you will be charged $40.

Customers can change rates anytime they find their usage habits changing – in most cases without restrictions. For example, if a family of four goes from working and attending school from home, to working and attending school in person, they might consider a rate with lower per-kWh rates during the times they will be home. Or a family that suddenly finds themselves at home 24-7 would want to consider a rate with lower per-kWh rates during the times they use the most energy. NOTE: If you switch away from an advanced rate (Overnight Savers, Smart Savers or Ultimate Savers), you cannot return to the rate you left for 12 months.

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Getting Started

Call 866.422.4605 or log into or create your account at AmerenMisouri.com to see your options.
Yes. You can choose a new rate up to three times within a 12-month period. After the third switch, your rate choices will be limited to Anytime Users and Evening/Morning Savers for the remainder of the 12-month period.
  • In summer, you may choose to cool your home to a lower-than-normal-temperature during off-peak hours and then turn up your thermostat higher than normal just before on-peak hours start. Turn your thermostat up when no one is home. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to a higher temperature during on-peak times.
  • In winter, you may choose to heat your home to a higher-than-normal-temperature during off-peak hours and then turn down your thermostat lower than normal just before on-peak hours start. Turn your thermostat down when no one is home. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to a lower temperature during on-peak times.
  • Run appliances, such as your washer/dryer and dishwasher, during off-peak hours.
  • Charge your electric vehicle during off-peak hours.
  • In summer, run your pool pump or pool heater during off-peak hours.

Log into or create your account and click on the "Usage" tab.
If you have an upgraded AMI-enabled smart meter, you will see energy usage information in 15-minute increments beginning within 24 hours after installation. If you have an AMR meter, you can log in to see daily usage information. Please note that you should allow a minimum of 6 months of energy usage information to accumulate before you draw conclusions about how your energy usage habits are impacting your bill.
You can check your energy usage anytime by logging into your account and clicking on your "Usage" tab. You can also sign up for a weekly cost summary alert that will show bill estimates based on usage for current billing cycle, your cost-to-date and a month-end bill estimate.

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Selecting a Rate

If you select a rate with off-peak hours and can charge your vehicle during those off-peak hours, you should be able to achieve some savings. But keep in mind that your overall savings will depend on how much energy use you can shift to off-peak hours.
There are two rates that offer a summer-only option: Smart Savers and Overnight Savers. If you sign up for a summer-only option, your winter usage (October-May) will be billed under the Anytime Users rate.
Yes, all rates are fully compatible with the Peak Time Savings program.
Yes, currently net metering and solar customers can participate in the Evening/Morning Savers rate. Solar customers can participate in the other off-peak/on-peak rates, but only if they drop net metering and register as a qualifying facility. View FAQs for more information.
Yes; Budget Billing is a payment program that is separate from your rate. The only exception is for new service with no billing history. In that case, the budget billing amount will be based on the average amount for similar customers on the same rate.