Con Edison Peak Hours and Off-Peak Hours in NYC: The Cheat Sheet
Updated July 3, 2026 · Independent guide by Meltek — not Con Edison
Search for ConEd's peak hours and you'll find different answers on different ConEd pages — because “peak” means different things depending on your rate plan and the situation. This cheat sheet separates them so you know which window applies to you.
The three different "peak hours" that matter
There are three distinct concepts, and mixing them up is why the internet is confused:
| Context | The hours | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Time-of-Use (TOU) billing | Off-peak overnight roughly 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. weekdays per ConEd's TOU page; under TOU Rate III the peak period runs 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, priced highest June through September | Only customers enrolled in a TOU rate |
| Grid peak / conservation windows | Hot weekday afternoons and evenings — ConEd's heat wave advisories ask customers to limit heavy appliance use, e.g. 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Everyone, during heat waves |
| Demand response events | Called on specific high-demand days within the May 1 to September 30 season, typically a few afternoon/evening hours | Smart Usage Rewards participants, who get paid for those hours |
So when is electricity cheapest?
If you are on a TOU rate: overnight, with the steepest peak/off-peak gap in summer. EV owners charging overnight are the classic winners.
If you are on the standard rate: no hour is cheaper than another within a season — but off-peak habits still pay off two ways. They lower your usage during heat-wave stress windows (when ConEd asks everyone to conserve), and if you join Smart Usage Rewards, those exact afternoon-evening reductions become cash.
Why ConEd pages disagree with each other
ConEd's TOU explainer, its rates portal, and its EV rate pages each describe different windows (10 p.m.–8 a.m. off-peak; “reduce noon to 8 p.m.”; 8 a.m.–midnight peak for Rate III) because they describe different rate schedules and different advice contexts. None of them are wrong — they're just answering different questions.
The practical rule: check which rate you are on (your bill shows the service class), then use the matching row in the table above. If you have never opted into TOU, you are on the standard rate.
Frequently asked questions
- What are Con Edison off-peak hours in NYC?
- For Time-of-Use customers, off-peak is overnight — roughly 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekdays, plus weekends and certain holidays depending on the rate schedule. On the standard residential rate there is no hourly price difference.
- Are ConEd rates cheaper at night?
- Only if you are enrolled in a Time-of-Use rate. Standard-rate customers pay the same delivery price at 3 a.m. as at 5 p.m. within the same season.
- What hours should I avoid using electricity during a heat wave?
- ConEd's conservation advisories during heat waves typically ask customers to limit use of multiple air conditioners and large appliances in the afternoon and evening — for example 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Smart Usage Rewards participants get paid for cutting back in those windows.
- What is super peak on ConEd TOU rates?
- Some TOU schedules include an extra-high-priced block within summer peak afternoons. Check the current rate schedule for your service class on ConEd's rates pages, as the exact blocks and prices change with rate cases.
Official Con Edison pages for this topic
Meltek is an independent Con Edison Smart Usage Partner, not Con Edison. Program details, amounts, and deadlines are set by Con Edison and change over time — always confirm on the official pages above.
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