High Electric Bill in Colorado Springs? Check Your AC Schedule
How Energy Wise peak hours, pre-cooling and a few thermostat adjustments can help lower summer cooling costs.
If your latest Colorado Springs electric bill was higher than expected, your air conditioner may not be using significantly more electricity, it may be running during the most expensive hours of the day.
Colorado Springs Utilities uses time-of-day pricing for most residential customers with smart meters. Because air conditioning is typically one of a home’s largest summer electricity users, adjusting your thermostat schedule could help lower your bill without sacrificing comfort.
Before assuming your AC needs a major repair or replacement, check when it is running and how well it is cooling.
Know Colorado Springs’ Peak Electricity Hours
Colorado Springs Utilities’ Energy Wise summer rates apply from June through September. For most customers on the standard plan:
- On-peak hours: Monday through Friday, 5–9 p.m.
- Off-peak hours: Weekdays before 5 p.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Weekends and most holidays: Off-peak all day
During summer, electricity costs approximately $0.29 per kilowatt-hour during on-peak hours, compared with approximately $0.07 during off-peak hours. In other words, electricity used between 5 and 9 p.m. on weekdays can cost more than four times the off-peak rate.
You can confirm your rate plan and view current pricing through Colorado Springs Utilities.
Why Your AC Schedule Matters This Summer
Colorado Springs recently experienced an unusually warm July. According to the National Weather Service, July 2026 was the city’s eighth-warmest July on record, with an average daytime high of nearly 90 degrees.
That heat makes air conditioners run longer. Unfortunately, the hottest part of a Colorado afternoon often overlaps with the beginning of the 5–9 p.m. peak-rate period. An AC that runs heavily during those four hours can have an outsized effect on your bill.
This does not mean you should turn off your air conditioner every afternoon. Instead, consider shifting some of its work to the less-expensive hours before 5 p.m.
Try Pre-Cooling Before 5 p.m.
Pre-cooling means lowering the thermostat slightly before peak pricing begins. Your AC cools the house while electricity is less expensive, and then you raise the setting during peak hours.
Here is a simple schedule to test:
Morning through midafternoon
Use your normal comfortable thermostat setting.
Approximately 3–5 p.m.
Lower the thermostat by 1–3 degrees to pre-cool your home.
From 5–9 p.m.
Raise the thermostat 2–4 degrees above your normal setting.
After 9 p.m.
Return the thermostat to your preferred nighttime setting.
Start with small adjustments. Every Colorado Springs home holds temperature differently depending on its insulation, windows, sun exposure, size and construction.
A well-insulated home may remain comfortable throughout much of the peak period. A home with leaky ductwork or strong western sun may warm up faster.
Avoid Extreme Thermostat Changes
Pre-cooling does not mean turning your thermostat down as far as possible.
Setting the thermostat dramatically lower will not make a typical central AC cool faster. It will simply make the system run longer. You could use more electricity before 5 p.m. without gaining enough stored cooling to make the strategy worthwhile.
You also do not need to shut the AC off completely between 5 and 9 p.m. Doing so could make the house uncomfortable and force the system to work excessively when it turns back on.
Instead:
- Make changes of a few degrees at a time
- Use ceiling fans in occupied rooms
- Close blinds on west-facing windows
- Avoid running the oven, dryer and dishwasher during peak hours
- Program the schedule so you do not have to adjust it manually every day
Households with young children, older adults or anyone with a health condition should always prioritize safe indoor temperatures over energy savings.
What If Your AC Runs Constantly Anyway?
A thermostat schedule can reduce peak-hour electricity use, but it cannot correct an inefficient or malfunctioning air conditioner.
Your AC may need professional attention if:
- It runs constantly without reaching the thermostat setting
- Airflow from the vents feels weak
- Certain rooms remain much warmer than others
- The system repeatedly turns on and off
- Ice develops on the refrigerant line
- You hear buzzing, grinding or rattling noises
- Electricity use has increased even though your schedule stayed similar
Common causes include a clogged filter, dirty outdoor coil, duct leakage, thermostat problems, worn electrical components or a refrigerant issue. Any of these problems can make the system use more electricity while producing less cooling.
Check your air filter first. If it appears dirty, replace it with a filter compatible with your system. Also remove weeds, leaves and other debris from around the outdoor unit so it has room to release heat.
If the AC still struggles, schedule an inspection rather than compensating by continually lowering the thermostat.
How to Tell Whether the Rate Schedule or Your AC Is the Problem
Log in to your Colorado Springs Utilities account and review your hourly electricity use. Pay particular attention to weekdays between 5 and 9 p.m.
If most of your usage occurs during those hours, adjusting your thermostat schedule may help. Colorado Springs Utilities also provides a My Rate Tool that compares available rate options using your historical usage.
If your AC consumes large amounts of electricity throughout the day, runs continuously or cannot maintain a reasonable temperature, the system itself may need service.
In many homes, both factors contribute: the AC runs longer than necessary and much of that run time occurs during expensive peak hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Colorado Springs’ summer peak hours?
For most customers on the standard Energy Wise rate, peak hours are Monday through Friday from 5–9 p.m. Summer pricing applies from June through September. Weekends and most holidays are off-peak all day.
Is it cheaper to run my AC at night?
Electricity is generally less expensive after 9 p.m. under the Energy Wise schedule. However, waiting until nighttime to cool an extremely hot house can be uncomfortable. Pre-cooling before 5 p.m. and making a moderate adjustment during peak hours is often more practical.
Will a smart thermostat lower my electric bill?
A smart or programmable thermostat can automatically pre-cool your home, reduce AC use from 5–9 p.m. and restore your preferred temperature afterward. It will not repair an inefficient AC, but it can make following a time-of-day schedule much easier.
Get More Cooling From the Electricity You Pay For
Adjusting your AC schedule is one of the simplest ways to manage summer electricity costs in Colorado Springs. But if your system runs constantly, produces weak airflow or struggles to keep the house comfortable, the thermostat may not be the real problem.
A professional AC maintenance check can identify airflow restrictions, thermostat problems, dirty components and developing mechanical issues that may be wasting electricity.
Not sure whether your high electric bill is caused by your AC schedule or the system itself?
Call us today or
book online
to schedule an AC maintenance service and make sure your system is cooling efficiently.
