Energy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh); it is based on the total amount of energy used during an entire monthly billing cycle. This is similar to your car odometer measuring how many miles you have traveled.

Maximum demand is measured in kilowatts (kW) and is based on your home's highest usage of power in any 60-minute period during the monthly billing cycle. This is similar to your car speedometer measuring how fast you are traveling.

¹please note: Prices based on TOU-RD-9 and do not include Basic Service Charge, fuel, environmental, nuclear, taxes and other charges.

• When speaking about electrical energy, there are two related, yet different, measurements: consumption (kilowatt-hours, or kWh) and demand (kilowatts, or kW).
• Energy consumption is the total amount of electricity used over a specified period. Demand is the immediate rate of that consumption.
  • Energy and demand are related like your car's distance and speed. Measuring how far you have traveled is different from the speed you traveled.
  • For example: Driving two hours at 60 miles per hour, you traveled 120 miles (miles = kWh) at 60 miles per hour (speed = kW).

• The residential rate measures and charges only for the energy used (consumption).
• The Smart Usage rate charges a lower rate for energy and adds a new demand component.

Both pricing plans encourage customers to shift energy usage away from the on-peak time periods (2–7 p.m., Monday–Friday, June–September, excluding holidays). The on-peak and off-peak rates are less for the Smart Usage rate because of the addition of the demand component. 

Household demands vary. The average Georgia home uses approximately 7 kW of maximum demand per month. Of course, your household's demand could be larger or smaller than the average. The size of your home, number of air-conditioning units, and the fuel type of your furnace will have the largest impact on your maximum demand. If you stagger the use of some large appliances, you can manage and potentially reduce your demand.

• Unfortunately, we are not able to predict whether an individual customer would save money on the Smart Usage rate. We can tell you that the pricing plan can help customers who are able to avoid simultaneous use of clothes dryer and cooking appliances. An additional way to save is to shift other energy usage, such as air conditioning, from peak hours (2 p.m. - 7 p.m., weekdays excluding holidays, June - September) to off-peak hours.

Yes, it is possible, if you are unable to avoid staggering the usage of higher-demand appliances or if much of your energy usage is during on-peak hours. You can also refer to the table of electric appliances to see what appliances use more demand than others. Remember, the fewer you use at the same time, the more money you could save.

• Yes, we offer several pricing plans to choose from to meet your energy needs. To see your choices please visit Georgia Power Rate Offerings.

With advancements in Smart Meter technology, the company can now measure and bill residential customers for demand. This provides better price signals to you and gives you more ways to control your bill. These price signals encourage the most efficient utilization of Georgia Power's electrical system.

Yes, you can be on Budget Bill while on the Smart Usage plan. However, the account must bill one month on Smart Usage before Budget Bill can be established.

No. The Smart Usage pricing plan is an optional rate.

You must commit to stay on the Smart Usage pricing plan for at least 12 months.