PSEG Long Island Peak and Off-Peak Hours: 2026 Complete Schedule

If you're a PSEG Long Island customer on a Time-of-Use (TOU) rate plan, when you use electricity matters as much as how much you use. Peak-period electricity can cost up to 40% more than off-peak power. Knowing the exact schedule — updated for 2026 — is the single fastest way to cut your monthly bill without buying a single new appliance.

This guide covers the complete 2026 PSEG Long Island peak and off-peak schedule, approximate rate differences, which appliances to shift, and how PSEG customers can earn additional cash rewards through demand response programs like Meltek.

During the summer season, PSEG Long Island's Time-of-Use peak window runs Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Weekends and the following federal holidays are always off-peak regardless of season: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Summer peak hours align with peak grid demand — air conditioners across Long Island all running simultaneously pushes wholesale electricity prices to their highest levels of the year, and PSEG passes that cost differential directly to TOU customers.

Outside of summer, the PSEG Long Island TOU peak window shifts to the morning: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (noon). The shorter 4-hour window reflects morning heating loads and commercial demand rather than cooling demand.

The non-summer off-peak period covers the remaining 20 hours on weekdays, plus all weekend and holiday hours. Running your dishwasher, washer/dryer, and EV charger after noon on weekdays and any time on weekends keeps you firmly in the lower off-peak rate.

Shifting high-draw appliances to off-peak windows is the core TOU strategy. Here are the highest-impact shifts for PSEG Long Island customers:

• EV charging — Program your charger to start at 7:05 PM (summer) or 12:05 PM (non-summer). Most Level 2 chargers complete an 80% charge in 3–5 hours, keeping the entire session in off-peak territory.
• Dishwasher — Run the delay-start cycle so it finishes in the evening. A standard dishwasher draws 1.2–1.5 kWh per cycle; shifting one cycle per day saves roughly $1.50–$2.50/month.
• Clothes dryer — The biggest single-load appliance at 4–5 kWh per cycle. Shifting two loads per week from peak to off-peak hours can save $3–$5 per month.
• Pool pump & water heater — If you have a smart pool pump or heat pump water heater, schedule them for overnight or weekend operation.
• Precooling — In summer, cool your home to 68–70°F before 2 PM, then let the thermostat ride up to 76°F during peak hours. The thermal mass of your home buffers the temperature swing while you avoid peak rates.

Beyond shifting appliances, PSEG Long Island customers can earn cash rewards by enrolling in demand response programs. When the grid is under stress on hot afternoons, the utility calls a demand response (DR) event — and customers who reduce usage during those windows get paid per kilowatt-hour saved.

Meltek connects PSEG Long Island customers to these programs automatically. Once enrolled, you receive event notifications and the app tracks your savings. Average customers earn $50–$150 per summer season without any hardware installation required.

Demand response events almost always overlap with PSEG's summer peak window (2:00–7:00 PM), so participating not only earns you rewards — it also keeps your energy use in the low-cost off-peak column.