ELCON: time-of-day rates often unwarranted

If the Electricity Consumers Resource Council (ELCON) suit succeeds, utilities will have to demonstrate the need for higher daytime rates. While peak usage power is higher for some utilities, ELCON contends that this should not be assumed for all. Challenging an earlier Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision, the suit states that utilities are claiming higher peaking rates when their costs are actually level and that time-of-use rates are not intended to shift utility loads.