If you have taken a close look at your Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) statement recently, you might have noticed that your monthly electricity bill is no longer a straightforward calculation. Over the last couple of years, the landscape of power generation and utility billing in Utah has undergone a quiet but dramatic transformation.
Between historic public hearings regarding requested rate hikes, the implementation of state legislation allowing for wildfire liability surcharges, and a major push toward structural billing shifts, the era of cheap, flat-rate electricity along the Wasatch Front is changing fast.
At Gardner Energy, we believe transparency is the best tool for managing your overhead. Here is a clear breakdown of how Rocky Mountain Power’s structural changes impact your monthly expenses, and how on-site solar and battery storage can protect your home or business.
For decades, most Utah homeowners and small businesses paid a predictable tiered flat rate for electricity. You paid a set number of cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) based on the total volume you consumed, regardless of the time of day.
While that standard rate still exists as a baseline option, Rocky Mountain Power is actively rolling out and promoting Time-of-Use (TOU) billing schedules as the future of the grid. In fact, customers who were previously enrolled in older electric vehicle (EV) and legacy time-of-day rates have already been automatically migrated over to this standard TOU framework.
Under a TOU model, the price of electricity changes drastically based on the time of day and the season. When demand on the grid is at its highest, the utility charges a premium price. When demand drops, the price falls.
For residential and small commercial accounts, the high-cost “On-Peak” window hits on weekdays during the following times:
During those peak summer hours, TOU electricity rates skyrocket to over 32¢ per kWh—nearly triple the cost of standard off-peak power. Because these hours align perfectly with when families return home from work, turn on major appliances, cook dinner, and crank up the air conditioning, utility bills can quickly become heavily weighted toward these expensive windows.
Many Utahns opt into TOU thinking it will automatically save them money, only to realize their natural daily habits conflict with the highest-priced hours of the day.
The changes aren’t just limited to when you use power. External climate factors and utility insurance structures are now directly impacting your baseline bill.
Following legislative shifts under Senate Bill 224, which allowed large electrical corporations to establish a “restricted fire fund” to handle astronomical commercial liability insurance premiums, Rocky Mountain Power petitioned the state for a 4.48% rate increase across all customer classes.
What this means for ratepayers: These surcharges act as a permanent baseline increase. Rather than paying purely for the actual electricity you consume, a portion of your monthly utility payment goes toward shielding the utility provider from extreme weather liabilities and grid-hardening infrastructure projects.
As the utility updates its long-term resource planning, ongoing exposure to fuel market volatility and supply chain pressures means consumers remain vulnerable to further rate adjustments down the road.
When the rules of the grid change, your strategy for energy consumption has to change with it. This is where modern solar technology, specifically when paired with smart battery backup systems, becomes an incredibly powerful defensive shield.
A common misconception is that solar panels only save you money while the sun is actively shining. In a Time-of-Use environment, a home battery backup system changes the game entirely. Your solar panels charge your battery during the cheap, off-peak afternoon hours. When 6:00 PM arrives and utility rates spike to 32¢ per kWh, your system automatically switches over to run your property off the stored battery power. You effectively bypass the most expensive hours of the day without changing your lifestyle or shutting down appliances.
While Utah transitioned away from traditional 1-to-1 net metering years ago, RMP’s current Export Credit structure still rewards smart system design. When your panels generate excess energy during sunny afternoon hours, that power is sent back to the grid in exchange for credits. By working with an experienced design-build contractor, your system can be sized perfectly to maximize these credits against your fixed baseline charges.
Navigating shifting utility schedules, facility charges, and peak demand windows can feel like learning a second language. That is why Gardner Energy doesn’t offer cookie-cutter systems or high-pressure sales pitches.
Since 2005, we have anchored our business in rigorous engineering and absolute transparency. We analyze your actual, historical interval data from Rocky Mountain Power to map out exactly how much power you consume during peak vs. off-peak windows. From there, we custom-engineer a solar-plus-storage solution designed to maximize your specific, long-term ROI.
The grid is changing, but your financial predictability doesn’t have to change with it.
Contact Gardner Energy today to speak with a local Utah energy consultant for a complimentary, data-driven property analysis or call 801-689-2618 to talk with Gardner Energy’s Pre-Construction team.
Take the first step toward energy savings and sustainability today.
We partnered with Kay’s Creek Elementary School to build a sustainable learning environment for their students. We installed a 275 kW solar system utilizing a ballast roof mount. This complete design-build project leverages existing rooftop space to generate clean energy. The 275 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 16,589 trees. This project shows our commitment to providing sustainable solutions for educational institutions.
We partnered with Weber State University to install a new 950 kW parking lot solar canopy on their campus in Ogden, UT. This complete design-build project utilizes existing space to generate clean energy minimizing the university’s carbon footprint. The 950 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 57,308 trees, demonstrating a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.
We partnered with Wasatch Commons to install 96 solar panels on an existing carport. This solar system generates 33 kW of renewable energy and is tied into Enphase microinverters. This project was the result of Wasatch Common’s commitment to environmental accountability, and we look forward to future opportunities to help them reach their renewable energy goals.
We partnered with Wadman Corporation to install a grid tied 171 kW solar array at their Ogden, Utah headquarters. This project utilized the space primarily on their unattached garages to create an annual power production of 239,999 kWh. This was such a smooth project with Wadman Corporation that we have worked with them on several solar projects since.
We partnered with Weber State University to install a new 950 kW parking lot solar canopy on their campus in Ogden, UT. This complete design-build project utilizes existing space to generate clean energy minimizing the university’s carbon footprint. The 950 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 57,308 trees, demonstrating a significant contribution to environmental sustainability.
Our team installed a new 140 kW for Davis County School district at Bountiful Elementary School in Bountiful, Utah. This ballast roof system utilizes open space on their roof to generate clean energy. It is estimated that because Davis County School District has invested in this 140 kW system, they are offsetting their carbon emissions equivalent to planting 8,446 trees.
We partnered with Salt Lake Community College to design and build them a 143 kW solar system on a parking canopy. This innovative solution leverages existing space to generate clean energy, minimizing the college’s carbon footprint and providing shade and protection for vehicles. This project is estimated to offset emissions equivalent to planting 8,631 trees, contributing greatly to environmental sustainability.
We partnered with Davis County School District to install a new 40 kW ballast roof system at Sunburst Elementary School in Layton, Utah. This project utilizes space on the roof of the elementary school to generate clean energy for the school. In fact, this 40 kW system is estimated to offset the carbon emissions equivalent to planting 2,413 trees. Sunburst Elementary is contributing significantly to both the knowledge and the environmental sustainability for it’s students.
