Defined term
Time-of-use electricity rate
A time-of-use electricity rate charges different prices for electricity during predefined periods within a day.
Also known as TOU rate
grid · Concept code GS-CONCEPT-014 · Last verified August 8, 2026
Evidence through 2021-02-01 · 0 sources have no source-event date
Content modified 2026-08-09
Definition and decision context
Definition
A time-of-use electricity rate charges different prices for electricity during predefined periods within a day.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; varies by jurisdiction
Verified August 8, 2026
Why it matters
Time-of-use periods can change the household value of using, storing, or exporting solar electricity at different hours; export compensation rules remain jurisdiction-specific.
Applicable jurisdiction: US; varies by jurisdiction
Verified August 8, 2026
Selector-derived public graph
Learning navigation
Primary topic: Finance
Broader topic
- Electricity pricingPublished concept
More specific topics
No public concepts recorded.
Related topics
- Solar battery storagePublished concept
Learn first
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Builds toward
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Primary sources
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory: A Comprehensive Review of Distributed Photovoltaic Compensation Mechanisms
Revision NREL/TP-7A40-78058 · Source event as of February 1, 2021 · Ontology accessed August 7, 2026 · Ontology verified August 7, 2026
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Frequently Asked Questions: Demand Response and Time-Based Rates
Revision Last updated 2020-07-14 · Source event as of July 14, 2020 · Ontology accessed August 8, 2026 · Ontology verified August 8, 2026