When homeowners think about lowering their electric bill, they often focus on using less electricity overall. But according to energy experts at Orlando Utility Commission (OUC), there’s another important factor that can have a significant impact on both household energy use and the electric grid.
“A common misconception is that electricity use is only about how much you consume overall,” said Diana Medina, sustainability supervisor at OUC. “In reality, when you use electricity matters just as much.”
Understanding the difference between energy consumption and electric demand can help homeowners make more informed decisions about their daily energy habits while also supporting a more reliable and affordable electric system for the entire community.
Demand vs. consumption: What’s the difference?
Although the terms are often confused, energy consumption and electric demand measure two different things.
“Energy consumption is the total amount of electricity your home uses over time, while electric demand is how much electricity you are using at a single moment,” Medina said.
Imagine you’re preparing dinner. The oven, microwave, dishwasher and air conditioner may all be running at once, creating a high level of electric demand because your home is drawing a lot of electricity at that moment. Electric demand is measured in kilowatts (kW). By the end of the day, the total electricity used by those appliance — along with every light turned on, every load of laundry washed and every hour the air conditioner ran — makes up your home’s energy consumption, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh.)
For example, running the dishwasher, oven and clothes dryer all at once while you’re preparing dinner creates a much higher electric demand than delaying the dishwasher until later in the evening. Although the total energy used by those appliances is about the same, staggering when they run reduces your home’s peak electric demand.
Why peak demand matters
In Central Florida, electric demand often peaks during the summer between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., when people return home from work or school, while air conditioners are already working hard to combat the heat.
While a single household might only experience a temporary spike, those moments add up when thousands of homes are doing the same thing at once.
“Looking at the bigger picture, the electric grid can only supply a certain amount of power at any given moment,” Medina said. “When many people use large amounts of electricity at the same time, demand can spike significantly.”
When communities are collectively mindful of their electric demand, especially during peak usage periods, it helps reduce strain on the grid and can delay or reduce the need for infrastructure upgrades.
“Keeping demand lower and more evenly distributed helps utilities operate more efficiently, which can help keep electricity costs more affordable for everyone.”
Which appliances create the biggest demand?
Not every appliance affects electric demand equally.
For many households, the HVAC system is the largest contributor, particularly during Florida’s hottest months. But clothes dryers, ovens, stovetops, pool pumps and electric vehicle chargers can also create significant demand.
The biggest factor, however, isn’t usually a single appliance — it’s running several high energy appliances at the same time.
Small changes can have a big impact
Reducing electric demand doesn’t necessarily mean using less electricity. Often, it’s simply about being more intentional about when electricity is used.
Simple ways to reduce demand include:
- Running major appliances at different times rather than simultaneously
- Charging electric vehicles overnight
- Scheduling pool pumps to operate overnight
- Using delayed-start features on dishwashers and washing machines
- Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher when practical
- Replacing aging appliances with energy-efficient models
- Changing HVAC filters regularly and scheduling routine maintenance
While each adjustment may seem small, widespread participation can make a meaningful difference.
“The point is that small, everyday decisions add up,” Medina said. “When many people make simple adjustments, it smooths out demand across the day, and that collective impact is what keeps the system more efficient and affordable for everyone.”
Tools that help customers understand their energy use
Many homeowners don’t realize when their home’s highest-demand moments occur. OUC offers several online tools that help customers better understand both their energy consumption and electric demand.
The Usage Dashboard, available through myOUC accounts, allows customers to view their electricity use in hourly and 15-minute intervals, making it easier to identify when demand spikes occur.
The Appliance Calculator estimates how much demand common household appliances create when they’re running at the same time, helping customers understand which combinations of appliances may be contributing to higher demand.
“Together, these tools turn energy use from a monthly surprise into something customers can understand and manage every day,” Medina said.
To learn more about electric demand and OUC’s usage tools, visit ouc.com/demand.