HomeWattCost

Alabama Power FD vs RTA

FD and RTA cost about the same for a typical Alabama home (within $1 a year). FD is cheaper below about 1,850 kWh a month and RTA above it, with the same daily pattern of use.

Utility Alabama PowerTariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 1,139 kWh/mo, Alabama

Head to head

ScenarioFDRTACheaper
Typical home, per month$198$198Tie
All-in price per kWh17.4¢17.4¢Tie
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour$241$234RTA
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm$241$244FD
Fixed charge$16.00$26.50

Typical home: Alabama average use by month (EIA), shaped hour by hour (NREL ResStock), before taxes. EV: Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, 1,000 miles a month; cheapest start any hour on FD, 12 am on RTA.

Month by month

Typical-home bill each month on each plan.

PlanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FD$225$198$155$150$167$218$266$272$212$164$157$196
RTA$204$178$142$134$149$251$302$310$244$147$143$177

FD: price by hour

July weekday.

Same price all day
16.6¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

RTA: price by hour

July weekday.

Off-peakPeak
13.1¢33.1¢13.1¢12a3a6a9a12p3p6p9p12a

FD or RTA: common questions

Is FD or RTA cheaper?

FD and RTA cost about the same for a typical Alabama home (within $1 a year). FD is cheaper below about 1,850 kWh a month and RTA above it, with the same daily pattern of use. Adding an EV driven 1,000 miles a month and charged at each plan’s cheapest hour, RTA gives the lower total ($234 against $241 a month).

What is the difference between FD and RTA?

FD is tiered: the price per kWh rises with monthly use, with a fixed charge of $16.00 a month. RTA is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Peak 1 pm–7 pm; lowest price 7 pm–1 pm next day), with a fixed charge of $26.50 a month.

How the two plans work

FD: Family Dwelling Service

  • In July the first 1,000 kWh a month cost 16.4¢ each; then 16.6¢ above 1,000 kWh a month.
  • An average Alabama home (1,517 kWh in July) goes past the first tier, so extra load such as an EV is priced higher.
  • Fixed charge: $16.00 a month.

RTA: Residential Time Advantage (Energy)

  • Peak 1 pm–7 pm on July weekdays; 6 of 24 hours carry the top price of 33.1¢.
  • The cheapest July weekday hour costs 13.1¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 20.0¢.
  • January weekdays range from 12.8¢ to 14.8¢.
  • Weekends differ: off-peak all day.
  • Fixed charge: $26.50 a month.

Your own pattern of use decides the winner: compare every Alabama Power plan on your usage, or see all Alabama Power plans, sources and peak hours.