Xcel Energy SPS IV-3 vs IV-3 TOU: Which Plan Is Cheaper?

Xcel Energy SPS IV-3 vs IV-3 TOU

Utility Xcel Energy SPSTariffs checked 2026-09-28Typical use 1,103 kWh/mo, Texas

Head to head

Scenario	IV-3	IV-3 TOU	Cheaper
Typical home, per month	$165	$162	IV-3 TOU
All-in price per kWh	15.0¢	14.6¢	IV-3 TOU
Home + EV, charged at the cheapest hour	$197	$193	IV-3 TOU
Home + EV, plugged in at 6 pm	$197	$202	IV-3
Fixed charge	$14.38	$14.38

Typical home: Texas 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 IV-3, 12 am on IV-3 TOU.

Plan	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
IV-3	$150	$135	$122	$126	$141	$208	$248	$239	$208	$150	$121	$137
IV-3 TOU	$139	$120	$109	$112	$129	$221	$264	$255	$219	$140	$108	$123

Plan

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

IV-3

$150

$135

$122

$126

$141

$208

$248

$239

$208

$150

$121

$137

IV-3 TOU

$139

$120

$109

$112

$129

$221

$264

$255

$219

$140

$108

$123

IV-3 or IV-3 TOU: common questions

Is IV-3 or IV-3 TOU cheaper?

For a typical Texas home using 1,103 kWh a month, IV-3 TOU is cheaper by about $46 a year ($162 against $165 a month). IV-3 TOU is cheaper below about 1,500 kWh a month and IV-3 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, IV-3 TOU gives the lower total ($193 against $197 a month).

What is the difference between IV-3 and IV-3 TOU?

IV-3 is tiered: the price per kWh rises with monthly use, with a fixed charge of $14.38 a month. IV-3 TOU is time-of-use (summer weekdays: Peak 1 pm–7 pm; lowest price 7 pm–1 pm next day), with a fixed charge of $14.38 a month.

How the two plans work

IV-3: Residential Service

In July every kWh costs about 14.8¢, whatever the month's use.
Fixed charge: $14.38 a month.

IV-3 TOU: Residential Service - Alternate Time of Use Rider

Peak 1 pm–7 pm on July weekdays; 6 of 24 hours carry the top price of 29.1¢.
The cheapest July weekday hour costs 11.5¢, so moving 1 kWh out of the top hours saves 17.6¢.
In January every hour costs the same (11.5¢).
Summer pricing applies Jun–Sep; winter pricing Oct–May.
Weekends differ: off-peak all day.
Fixed charge: $14.38 a month.

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