In this article, we explain how to add a new rate zone to your electricity rate listing in the Sense app for Time of Use (TOU) plans.
NOTE: Learn how to set a flat electricity rate (one cost for all times of day) in this article.
Why Add Instead of Replace
When updating your TOU rates, you should create a new rate zone or duplicate an existing one instead of editing or deleting it. Updating a current zone will overwrite historical rate data—removing your ability to compare usage across different periods.
By adding a new rate zone, you preserve the historical data and maintain an accurate record of changes over time.
What You’ll Need
To enter your Time of Use rates, gather the following information from your electricity provider’s website or bill:
-
The cost per kWh for each TOU rate period
-
The days and times during which each rate applies
-
Seasonal differences, if applicable
Example: Winter Rate Plan
Winter season:
Dates: October 1 – May 31
Days: Applies Sunday through Saturday
Rates:
-
Super Off Peak – 4¢
-
Off Peak – 5¢
-
On Peak – 8¢
Time blocks:
-
Super Off Peak: 12am–5am
-
On Peak: 5am–10am
-
Off Peak: 10am–5pm
-
On Peak: 5pm–10pm
-
Super Off Peak: 10pm–12am
Each block needs its own Rate Zone in the Sense app. Because a Rate Zone covers only one continuous time block within a 24-hour period, you’ll need to create multiple Rate Zones for each rate tier that appears more than once daily.
Use the Duplicate Rate Zone feature at the bottom of the New TOU Rate screen to speed up setup.
Tip: Give each Rate Zone a unique name (e.g., "Winter Super Off Peak AM") to avoid confusion and help with troubleshooting later.
Alternative: Using the Default Electricity Cost
If preferred, you can let the Default Electricity Cost fill in for periods not explicitly covered by Rate Zones. However, there are tradeoffs:
-
You won’t receive alerts for transitions into Default Cost periods
-
Changing your Default Cost will retroactively affect all past data, unlike frozen Rate Zones
For accuracy and historical consistency, we recommend using specific Rate Zones wherever possible.
Adjust for Weekends
Many TOU rate plans vary between weekdays and weekends. Be sure to set separate Rate Zones accordingly if this applies to your plan.
Set Alerts & Recurrence
In the Rate Zone settings, you can:
-
Turn on alerts to notify you when a new rate zone begins
-
Enable recurrence for schedules that repeat yearly—saving you time in the future
Recurring zones will not show under "Future Rate Zones" until the active Rate Zone ends. Once expired, older zones move to the Historic Rate Zones section.
Example: Summer Rate Plan
Dates: June 1 – September 30
Days: Sunday through Saturday
Rates:
-
Off Peak – 7¢
-
On Peak – 20¢
Time blocks:
-
Off Peak: 12am–12pm
-
On Peak: 12pm–9pm
-
Off Peak: 9pm–12am
Set up these three blocks as individual Rate Zones. Again, use unique names for each.
By setting up your Rate Zones properly, you’ll ensure that the Sense app accurately reflects your energy costs—helping you make better-informed choices and track trends over time.
Note: Sense does not currently support direct input of demand charges, fixed fees, or additional tariffs, and it does not accommodate tiered or baseline rate structures. Because utility pricing models vary widely, exact alignment with your utility bill may not be possible. However, setting up Time of Use rates in the Sense app still provides a more accurate estimate of your energy costs and helps you make smarter choices about when to use electricity.