Orlando Utilities Commission customers will see a new electricity pricing structure beginning in November, with a lower rate for energy used and a separate monthly charge tied to peak demand.

OUC has been emailing customers personalized videos explaining how the change, called DemandLevel, could affect their bills. The videos use customers’ past energy use to estimate whether their bills may rise, fall or stay about the same.

The price per kilowatt-hour will decrease by 12.5%, or about 1 cent, according to OUC. The new plan also adds a monthly demand charge of $5, $10 or $15. The amount will depend on a customer’s highest 15-minute period of electricity use during the month.

That peak can be affected by running several power-hungry appliances at once. OUC advises customers to stagger appliance use. For example, waiting for one appliance to finish before starting another to help keep their demand charge lower.

Why the change?

“The change is coming about because we want to help customers relate the way they use the grid to pricing signals,” said Jenise Osani, Vice President of Customer Experience at OUC. She said spreading electricity use across the day could help reduce pressure on the grid and the cost of operating it.

OUC estimates about 50% of customers will see their bills decrease, about 30% will see little change, and the remaining customers could pay up to $7 more per month. Osani said the change is revenue-neutral for OUC: It changes how customers are charged, not the total amount the utility collects.

Customers can review their past and estimated demand through the My Usage dashboard at MyOUC.com or the My OUC Energy Coach tool. OUC also recommends reviewing the personalized video sent to each customer.

OUC DemandLevel town halls

• OUC is holding in-person information sessions in October for electric customers and authorized users. Pre-registration is required.
• Thursday, Oct. 15, 6 to 8 p.m. – OUC Pershing Office, 5971 Pershing Ave., Orlando, FL 32822
• Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Orlando Public Library, 101 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Englewood Community Center, 6123 La Costa, Orlando, FL 32807

For official details about the pricing update, rate information and tools, visit OUC’s DemandLevel guide.