Are you on the right Evergy time-based rate plan? How to check, switch and save money

If you use electricity on the Missouri side of the Kansas City metro, there’s a good chance your billing rate has changed in the past two months.

That’s because Evergy, the electrical utility that provides power to the majority of local residents, is in the final stages of rolling out its new time-based rate plans.

More than 99% of the company’s Missouri customers are now on a time-based plan, Evergy spokesperson Katie McDonald said.

All four rate plans charge a premium for electricity used during the peak hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. And they all offer a discounted rate on electricity used between midnight and 6 a.m. every day.

But due to some last-minute changes approved by state regulators at the Missouri Public Service Commission, the default rate you’ve been placed on may not be the option that will save you the most money on your electricity bills.

But it’s not too late: customers can compare rate plans and switch at any time.

McDonald said less than 2% of customers have switched away from the new default rate so far — but choosing a plan that could lower your bills is as easy as clicking a few buttons.

Step 1: Compare the four rate plans on the Evergy website

The quickest way to compare and switch plans is to do so online. Log into your online account at evergy.com by entering your username and password. Then navigate to the Manage Account tab and choose “Compare My Rate” under the Rate Information subheading.

The rate comparison tool will show your estimated annual electricity payments under each of the four rate plans. This information is calculated based on your electricity use habits over the past 12 months.

In the example below, the Default Time Based Plan will result in the highest annual cost for this customer, while the Nights & Weekends Max Plan will cost the least. If the customer changes their electricity use habits to better suit this plan, they could save even more money.

A personalized page on Evergy’s website shows Missouri customers which of the company’s new time-based electricity rate plans will result in the lowest annual bills.

Here’s a brief overview of each plan, some of whose names have changed in recent months:

Default Time Based Plan: Evergy’s Missouri customers are automatically being placed on this plan, which is the closest of the four to a “flat” electricity rate. It charges a small premium from 4 to 8 p.m. every day year-round, and offers a small discount between midnight and 6 a.m. every night.

Summer Peak Time Based Plan: This plan charges higher prices from 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays only in the summer, and lower prices overnight throughout the year. It doesn’t charge a premium during the months of October through May.

Nights & Weekends Plan: This plan charges a lot more during peak hours year round, but offers big discounts overnight. Evergy recommends it for those with the flexibility to do laundry, run the dishwasher and use other large appliances at night after 8 p.m. and on weekends.

Nights & Weekends Max Plan: This plan charges the largest premiums during peak hours year round, but offers the biggest savings overnight. Evergy recommends it for customers with electric vehicles that can be charged between midnight and 6 a.m.

Step 2: Select a plan and choose “Change my Plan”

Which rate plan is best for you will depend on your personal electricity use habits. You can also select each plan and get monthly bill estimates, which can show whether a plan will be cheaper for you in the summer or the winter.

For example, the Summer Peak Time Based Plan only charges a premium during peak hours in the summer months — not the winter months. A monthly comparison may show that switching to this plan over the winter and swapping to a different one next spring will save you the most money overall.

Evergy customers can switch between time-based plans whenever they like, as many times as they like. The time-based plans charge summer rates from June through September and winter rates from October through May.

Once you’ve picked the plan for you, click on the green “Change my Plan” button.

Step 3: Review and submit your choice

The “vast majority” of Missouri customers should be able to simply review and confirm their chosen rate plan online, McDonald said. It will then go into effect the following day. Click on the “Submit Plan” button to confirm your choice.

For the “vast majority” of Evergy’s Missouri customers, switching to a new time-based electricity rate plan is as easy as selecting a plan online and submitting your choice using the green button.

What if your landlord controls your Evergy account?

Some customers are not able to make the switch online — including renters whose landlords or property management companies control their homes’ Evergy accounts.

But these customers can still change their rate plan. To do so, they will need to call Evergy directly.

You can reach Evergy by calling 888-471-5275 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays.

Evergy also offers one time-based rate plan to its Kansas customers, but is not switching them to this plan automatically. Customers can learn more and choose whether to opt in to the plan through their Evergy account online.

Do you have more questions about Evergy’s time-based rates or other utility company policies in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.