Load Shifting
The practice of moving heavy electricity consumption from expensive peak pricing hours to cheap off-peak hours using timers, smart controls, or battery storage.
Load shifting is an energy management strategy where discretionary electrical loads are scheduled to operate during periods of lower electricity tariffs or high onsite solar production.
Instead of running power-hungry appliances (such as electric vehicle chargers, pool pumps, dishwashers, and laundry machines) during peak utility hours (typically 4 PM to 9 PM), smart timers delay operation until overnight off-peak hours.
When paired with a home battery backup system, load shifting enables storing low-cost off-peak grid electricity or midday solar energy and discharging it during peak hours to avoid expensive utility purchases entirely.
Why it matters
Load shifting reduces electric utility bills under Time-of-Use (TOU) rates by 30% to 60% without requiring a reduction in total household energy usage.
Example
Charging a home battery and electric car at 2 AM on a 15¢/kWh off-peak rate instead of pulling grid electricity at 5:30 PM on a 52¢/kWh peak rate.