How to Tame Utility Time-of-Use Plans

If you live in California or other areas with Time-of-Use (TOU) billing, you know the "dreaded red band." These are the peak hours (often 4 PM to 9 PM) when electricity prices can double or triple.

Strategic use of your Airspool system can turn these expensive hours into a non-issue.

The Strategy: Shift and Shave

1. Shift Your Panels

If possible, set up your Airspool solar panels with a Southwest-facing orientation. This shifts your solar production "bell curve" later into the afternoon, providing free power exactly when the utility starts their peak pricing.

2. Pre-Cool Your Space

Run your unit hard heading into the 4 PM peak. By "blowing past" your setpoint and cooling the room down to 68°F or 70°F while power is cheaper (or free from the sun), you create a thermal buffer.

3. Use Smart Scheduling

Get a Kasa Smart Outdoor Plug (available for under $20) to manage your Airspool unit’s grid connection:

• The Hard Cut: Schedule the plug to cut grid power entirely during the peak 4 PM - 9 PM window. Your Airspool will continue to run on any remaining solar power but will refuse to pull the expensive $0.40/kWh grid power.
• The Interval Tactic: If you can't go the full 5 hours without grid power, schedule the plug for 15-minute bursts (e.g., 5:15-5:30) to maintain comfort while still significantly reducing your peak usage.

4. AC Limiter Mode

Don't forget that Airspool units have a native AC Limiter Mode. You can set the unit to never pull more than 300 watts from the grid, allowing the compressor to keep running at a slow, efficient speed without breaking the bank.

Take the thumb of the utility off your neck. Combine solar power with smart scheduling to win the TOU game.