A direct quote from a direct mail piece from Alabama Power Co. “Are you on the right rate plan? Alabama Power offers you rate plans depending on your household needs. You can choose from the Family Dwelling Rate that is based on your usage, with the price varying by season, or choose between two new options: Time Advantage-Energy and Time Advantage-Demand. The new Time Advantage Rates are based on the time of day, season and how much electricity you use at one time. They offer economy pricing periods when total electricity usage it at its lowest — evenings, nights and weekends — and when the Time Advantage price is 30-35 percent lower than Alabama Power’s standard residential rate. These economy pricing periods total about 90 percent of the hours in a year. The Time Advantage Rate may work best if you can shift electricity use to these lower-cost times. Switching rates may help you save up to 12 percent annually on your power bill.”

So these cheaper rates comprise 90 percent of the hours in a year, but if I choose one of these  “better” rates, I might be able to save 12 percent annually?

Does this offer make a lick of sense? Not to me. I’ve got to see some numbers before I’ll jump into making a decision like this one.