The recent op-ed by the president of Maine’s chapter of AARP, in opposition to time of use [TOU] electrical pricing, was puzzling.

My understanding of TOU pricing is that it makes electricity more expensive during the day, less expensive at night. The cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) should average out to the same over a 24-hour period and, if anything, heat pumps require less electricity during the (more expensive) daytime.

In houses, the largest users of electricity are things that need heat: hot-water heaters, dryers and stoves. Hot-water heaters can have a timer added that limit the time they use power to the cheaper overnight time.

The higher daytime prices are likely to be 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m. Changing mealtimes slightly to avoid cooking during the expensive times is a small adjustment to make. Medical devices that need to run continuously would pay a higher cost for electricity during the day, but a lower cost at night — evening it out over the 24 hours.

I’m old enough to remember when long-distance phone rates went down in the evening. People coped fine. TOU pricing would primarily affect industrial and business users who use power much more heavily during the day. A retiree who is at home all day — and all night — would be minimally affected.

I’m retired. I have heat pumps, solar panels and an electric car. I’d LOVE time of use pricing. Even without the solar panels and electric car, TOU would be a great benefit. A clock for my hot-water heater, dryer loads in the evening, a slightly later evening meal? No sweat.

Harold Booth
Hallowell