New voluntary program gives residential electric customers tools to save by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours
500 customers to be selected for two-year pilot
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Jan. 22, 2026 – CenterPoint Energy today announced the launch of TimeWise, a new voluntary pilot program that offers residential electric customers in southwestern Indiana a pricing option designed to help them save money by using energy during lower-cost hours. The program, approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission as the Critical Peak Pilot, will begin enrolling customers starting this month as part of CenterPoint’s ongoing effort to provide customers with additional tools and programs to help manage their energy costs.
“We know affordability is top of mind for our customers, and TimeWise is another new tool that provides participating households with a new way to manage their energy costs by making informed decisions about when they use electricity,” said Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana. “This pilot reflects the feedback we’ve heard from customers and stakeholders. We look forward to identifying how programs like this can further support affordability and reliability across southwestern Indiana and hope to expand the option to all residential customers should the pilot prove to be successful.”
How TimeWise works
With TimeWise, energy costs decrease when demand is lower. During the summer months of June through September, participants will pay lower rates during off peak hours:
· Weekday mornings before 1 p.m.
· Weekday evenings after 7 p.m.
· Any time on weekends
Rates are higher on summer weekday afternoons between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. when demand for electricity is greatest. By shifting daily household activities, such as washing dishes or clothes, to lower cost time periods, customers will have the opportunity to save money while actively supporting grid reliability.
TimeWise participants will also be called to reduce usage throughout the year during times of critical need. TimeWise participants will receive advance notice through their preferred method of communication before a “critical peak” event. At least one day before a critical peak event, customers will receive an email, text alert or both so they can plan ahead. Rates are significantly higher during these separate four-hour events, giving customers an added reason to shift their usage any time throughout the year to free capacity on the grid for reliability.
Pilot program details
Up to 500 residential electric customers will be randomly selected from those who apply for the TimeWise pilot. Key details include:
· $75 account credit: Participants will receive a one-time credit after participating in at least one critical peak event, with the potential to save more by shifting energy use to lower-cost hours.
· Program launch: TimeWise officially launches in spring 2026.
· Duration: The pilot is expected to run for up to two years, during which CenterPoint will evaluate customer experiences to inform potential future offerings.
TimeWise builds on CenterPoint’s Community Affordability Actions, a series of initiatives announced in late 2025 focused on supporting customers by keeping base rates at or below the rate of inflation through 2027 and providing tools and resources to manage energy costs.
For more information about TimeWise, including eligibility requirements, visit CenterPointEnergy.com/TimeWise.
