Peak Time Rebates
Do less housework and play more games at peak times! When you get the whole household involved with Peak Time Rebates, it’s a great way to save a little on your energy bill and support Oregon’s clean energy future.
Do less housework and play more games at peak times! When you get the whole household involved with Peak Time Rebates, it’s a great way to save a little on your energy bill and support Oregon’s clean energy future.
Make a difference this season
Peak Time Rebates rewards you for shifting your energy use during peak times – when energy demand and prices are highest. It’s your choice how you participate in each event and there’s no cost to join.
The summer season kicks off June 1 and runs through Sept. 30, 2023.
Don’t miss out on the Peak Time Rebates Summer Sweepstakes (terms and conditions).
When energy demand and prices are high, you'll have the option to reduce your energy use during the Peak Time Event, which is typically 3 to 4 hours. When you reduce your energy use, you can earn a rebate on your next bill. Plus, shifting your energy away from peak times makes a difference. You’re supporting the use of more sustainable energy resources, keeping energy more reliable and helping keep costs lower for the community. It’s a win-win-WIN!
1. Get notified
Once you're enrolled, we'll send you a text or email the day before and the day of a Peak Time Event. We'll let you know when the event will start and stop and provide savings tips you can use to lower your use.
2. Shift use
During an event, you can reduce your energy use with simple changes like waiting to wash dishes or do laundry and adjusting your thermostat a few degrees if you have electric heat.
3. Earn rebates
If you reduce your energy use during the Peak Time Event, you can earn a rebate on your next bill.
Your energy use “baseline” is calculated from your average use over the past 10 days for the same hours of the day as the Peak Time Event. This excludes weekends, holidays and any other past Peak Time Event days. You can earn $1 for every kilowatt hour (kWh) you reduce below that baseline during the Peak Time Event.
During Peak Time Events, your health and safety should always come first. On extremely warm days, please be sure to keep the temperature in your home safe by exercising discretion during Peak Time Events. Consider health impacts when reducing energy use and stay safe when the weather heats up.
Peak Time Rebates - Frequently asked questions
When are Peak Time Events called?
Peak Time Events can be called in the morning between 7 and 11 a.m. and in the late afternoon between 3 and 8 p.m. During the summer season, Peak Time Events will most commonly occur in the late afternoon. In the winter, you might notice more morning events. The events can be two to five hours in length, but most often last for three hours. You'll receive a notification the day before the event with the specific times it will occur.
Do I need to provide PGE with an email or mobile number to participate in Peak Time Rebates?
Yes. To be enrolled in Peak Time Rebates, you need to provide PGE with either an email address and/or a mobile phone number to receive Peak Time Event notifications. You can choose to receive notifications by email, text or both — it’s up to you. If you provide a phone number and reply STOP to text notifications, you'll be unenrolled from Peak Time Rebates. To update your notification preferences for Peak Time Rebates, visit portlandgeneral.com/ptrenroll or call PGE Customer Service at 800-542-8818.
How are Peak Time Rebates calculated?
Your energy use “baseline” is calculated from your average use over the past 10 days for the same hours of the day as the Peak Time Event. This excludes weekends, holidays and any other past Peak Time Event days. You can earn $1 for every kilowatt hour (kWh) you reduce below that baseline during the Peak Time Event.
How will I know if I earned a rebate after a Peak Time Event?
When you enroll in the program, you have the choice to be notified by email and/or text. After each Peak Time Event, you will receive a message one to three days later to let you know if you earned a rebate and for how much. If you earned a rebate, this amount will appear as a credit on your next bill.
What if I don’t participate in a Peak Time Event?
Your participation is completely voluntary. Once you’re enrolled, you’re eligible for a bill credit during any event where you successfully reduce your energy use. If you aren’t able to save energy during an event, you’ll still be enrolled and have other opportunities to participate in the future. Your health and safety should always come first, so please consider any health impacts when reducing your energy use.
I did my best to shift my energy use but didn’t receive a rebate. How come?
If you’re a customer who doesn’t use much electricity on a daily basis, it may be more difficult to reduce your use during Peak Time Events. Turning off lights or waiting to charge your phone won’t make much of an impact during a Peak Time Event. You can make the biggest impact by reducing the use of major appliances, using less hot water and turning your thermostat down a few degrees if you have electric heat or air conditioning.
Where will Peak Time Rebates credits appear on my bill and how often?
Peak Time Rebates will appear in the “Additional Charges/Credits” area of your bill as “peak time credits.” Rebates should appear on the next bill you receive after the Peak Time Event.
Can I be enrolled in Peak Time Rebates as well as the PGE Smart Thermostat program?
Unfortunately, no — you can't be in both programs at once. However, if you have a smart thermostat, you may want to consider joining the PGE Smart Thermostat program, where you can earn $25 per season for participating. For more information, go to portlandgeneral.com/thermostat.
There are typically 5-7 events in the summer and 3-5 events in the winter. While we can’t guarantee savings, customers who participated in our pilot program earned an average of $2 - $3 per event.* And when we all work together, it helps provide reliable energy for everyone. So, your participation can make a difference.
Ready to get started? Sign up for Peak Time Rebates online or call 503-228-6322 or 800-542-8818 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. View Peak Time Rebates terms and conditions.
*Your actual savings will vary.
Easy ways to be successful this season
Check out these tips and creative ways folks on Peak Time Rebates are shifting their energy use to help save a little on their electricity bill.
There’s more than one way to shift your energy
Have a smart thermostat? Consider joining our Smart Thermostat program instead of Peak Time Rebates to make shifting your energy use even easier. Because both Peak Time Rebates and the Smart Thermostat program reward you for shifting energy during a Peak Time Event, you can only be enrolled in one or the other.