• 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 than the speed you traveled.
• For example: Driving 2 hours at 60 miles per hour, you traveled 120 miles (miles = kWh) at 60 miles per hour (speed = kW).

• The residential rate only measures and charges 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 (2-7p.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. Georgia Power encourages you to visit the Residential Rate Advisor tool at www.georgiapower.com/residential/rate-plans/home to learn more.

Household demands vary. The average Georgia home uses approximately 8 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 PM to 7 PM, weekdays excluding holidays, June through September) to off-peak hours.
• A calculator is available to help you determine if you can save money. Launch the calculator, answer some questions and learn how to save!

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. Please use the link to the calculator provided above to help determine this. You can also refer to the table of electric appliances at www.georgiapower.com/residential/rate-plans/residential-demand 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. Follow this link to see the standard residential rate (R): www.georgiapower.com/docs/rate-schedules/residential-rates/2.10_r-21.pdf
• And this link to see the Smart Usage rate (TOU-RD): Smart Usage: www.georgiapower.com/docs/rate-schedules/residential-rates/2.40_tou-rd-2.pdf

Yes, we offer several pricing plans to choose from to meet your energy needs. To see your choices please visit www.georgiapower.com/residential/rate-plans/home.

With advancements in Smart Metering technology (more can be seen at www.georgiapower.com/residential/understanding-your-bill/smart-meter, 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 Billing while on the Smart Usage plan. However, the account must bill one month on Smart Usage before Budget Billing can be established.

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

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