ANSWERS

Peak Time Rewards events are scheduled on days when it is anticipated that the demand for electricity will be particularly high. By reducing electricity usage during events, participants can earn bill credits and help improve service reliability in their communities. All current-year Peak Time Rewards participants will receive notification of the event’s date and time via their preferred communication methods (email, text, and/or phone). Notification preferences selected during enrollment can be updated in the Event Center.

To earn a credit on their bill following a Peak Time Rewards event, participating customers need to lower their electricity usage below their baseline usage.* The more you reduce, the more you can save. Review our energy-saving tips here.

*Ameren Illinois calculates your personal baseline usage for each Peak Time Rewards event by reviewing your usage on similar days prior to the event. For more information, see “How is my personal baseline usage calculated?

Peak Time Rewards events are scheduled in response to projected high demand, and are more likely to occur on hot, humid summer days. Peak Time Rewards events will typically occur on weekdays during the afternoon when the demand for electricity is highest. Events will most likely occur during the summer months (June through September); however, events can be scheduled at any time throughout the year. There is no maximum or minimum number of events in a given year, and the frequency of events scheduled varies depending on the overall demand for electricity.

You can choose to be notified of Peak Time Rewards events by email, text message, and/or phone call during enrollment. We encourage you to select multiple notification methods, but all Peak Time Rewards participating customers must have at least one selected notification preference at all times. Ameren Illinois will send a notification via the method(s) you selected a day before the Peak Time Rewards event. In rare cases, you may receive a notification from Ameren Illinois on the day of an event. As a courtesy, Ameren Illinois will not send notifications prior to 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m.

This calculation entails four steps.

Step 1: Ameren Illinois identifies the previous 14 days that were not a holiday or a day with a previous Peak Time Rewards event.

Step 2: Ameren Illinois identifies the three days when you used the most electricity during the same timeframe as the current Peak Time Rewards event. For example, if the upcoming Peak Time Rewards event is from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Ameren Illinois will look at the three days when you used the most electricity from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Step 3: Ameren Illinois excludes any of the three days with significantly lower or higher temperature and humidity compared to the forecasted Peak Time Rewards event day.

Step 4: Ameren Illinois averages the remaining days to reach your baseline usage.

*Baseline = (10 + 11)/2 = 10.5 kWh

To calculate your rewards, Ameren Illinois looks at your electricity usage during a Peak Time Rewards event and your personal baseline usage*. Ameren takes the difference between those two numbers and multiplies it by the current credit per kilowatt hour** (kWh) to calculate your rewards.

Below is an example of a possible rewards calculation:

In this example, if the bill credit rate was $1 / kWh, you would have saved $2 on your monthly bill for this single Peak Time Rewards event.

The bill credit rate is different each year. Each spring, Ameren Illinois obtains the market prices for peak time electricity to determine the credit amount for the program year. Based on historic electricity market prices, the credit rate could range between 10 cents and $2 per kWh on average. For example, the credit amount for the first year through May 2017 was $1.51 per kWh of reduction during PTR events. However, there could be periods when low electricity market costs result in zero credits for the program. Remember, whatever the credit rate, this free program provides the chance to save you money, improve reliability in your community, and protect the environment during peak demand times.

*Ameren Illinois calculates your personal baseline usage for each Peak Time Rewards event by reviewing your usage on similar days prior to the event. For more information, see “How is my personal baseline usage calculated?

**Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). One kWh of energy is equal to 1000 watt-hours and will power a 40 watt light bulb for 25 hours (40 watts x 25 hours = 1,000 watt-hours = 1 kWh). Big appliances like your air conditioner use a lot more electricity than light bulbs.

There is no limit on how much of a reward you can earn through Peak Time Rewards. The more electricity you reduce compared to your baseline, the more you are rewarded with credits on your bill. The following table shows how many kilowatt hours* (kWh) on average your appliances may use.

* Assuming an electric oven or dryer
** Assuming a 3 ton air conditioning unit and an average insulated home

Avoiding those large appliances during Peak Time Rewards Events, along with tools like a programmable thermostat and light timers, can help you reduce your electricity usage. You can also use Ameren Illinois’ other energy-saving programs to help you take the right actions to earn more rewards. The Ameren Illinois Energy Efficiency programs offer tips and additional incentives to help you save.

*Electricity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). One kWh of energy is equal to 1000 watt-hours and will power a 40 watt light bulb for 25 hours (40 watts x 25 hours = 1,000 watt-hours = 1 kWh). Big appliances like your air conditioner use a lot more electricity than light bulbs.

Peak Time Rewards credits will appear on your Ameren Illinois bill in the new Peak Time Rewards Summary section. Credits can also be viewed by logging into your Ameren Illinois online account and going to the Bill History tab. Don’t want to wait until your monthly bill? You can view your estimated rewards online approximately 24 hours after a Peak Time Rewards event by logging on to your Ameren Illinois account and selecting the “Usage” tab.

To change your notification settings for Peak Time Rewards events, please use the Notification Preferences form in the Event Center or call 1.844.787.7874 to speak with a program specialist. Keeping your notification details up to date is important so you can keep earning rewards.  Remember that at least one working notification method is required to remain enrolled in Peak Time Rewards.

To change your overall contact information where we send program updates, please give us a call at 1.844.787.7874.