Steve Gagne

Xcel Energy’s Time of Use rate is an opt-in plan for Minnesota residential customers that prices electricity by the hour. This page covers the specifics: the hours, the seasons, the approximate prices, and how it compares with Xcel’s other plans. For the general idea behind time-based pricing, see our overview of time-of-use rates in Minnesota.

Why does time-of-use cost many homes more on its own? Under Xcel Energy’s Minnesota Time-of-Use rate, the most expensive hours to purchase energy are from 6 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and the least expensive are midnight to 6 a.m. Most households do their cooking and, in summer, most of their cooling, in that evening window. Without a way to cover daytime use or move evening use, the higher evening prices can outweigh the overnight “off peak” discount.

  Overview TOU when paired with solar has the potential of adding thousands to your lifetime solar savings, as well as reducing your investments break even point. These savings can far outweigh the previous federal tax credit, discover how one simple step can change the power of your home energy investment. What Is Time-Of-Use [TOU]

Ask three companies what their commercial solar payback period was and you will get three different answers, sometimes separated by years. That spread is not evidence that someone is being dishonest. It reflects how much the return depends on variables specific to each building and each business.

If you are building an internal case for a solar project, understanding those variables is more useful than collecting other people’s payback numbers. Here are the five that move the result the most.

Once you have decided on a Level 2 charger, the next question is where it goes. Placement is not just a matter of preference. It affects how much the installation costs, what equipment you need, weather is a factor, and how the project gets permitted and inspected. In Minnesota, the cold and snow add a few considerations that warmer states don’t have to think about. Here is how the three most common locations compare.

Once you have decided on a Level 2 charger, the next question is where it goes. Placement is not just a matter of preference. It affects how much the installation costs, what equipment you need, weather is a factor, and how the project gets permitted and inspected. In Minnesota, the cold and snow add a few considerations that warmer states don’t have to think about. Here is how the three most common locations compare.

Most electric vehicle charging happens at home, overnight, while the car sits in the driveway or garage. That makes your home charging setup a part of EV ownership you live with every day.   The first real decision is whether to charge at Level 1 or Level 2? The answer depends on how you drive, the age of your home electrical system, and a few things that are specific to Minnesota like our cold winters and utility programs that will incentivize you to charge during off-peak periods.

If you have solar panels on your Minneapolis home and you are starting to think about a new roof, you have probably started to ask yourself what happens to the panels? You cannot just roof around them and a roofing crew cannot simply rip them off and reinstall them. Your solar array is a live electrical system that is integrated into your roofing system and framing. In order to avoid triggering roof leaks or voiding system warranties the system should be removed carefully by an experienced solar contractor. This is the best way to preserve the value of your solar investment.