Ask your energy supplier which rate plan fits how you actually use power
Time-of-use or variable plans can be cheaper if your usage fits them. AI can analyze your usage and prepare questions for your supplier.
Part of: How to lower your electric bill
1. Copy this prompt
Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Grok (the free versions work), then replace the [highlighted brackets] with your details. Leave out account numbers and SSNs.
Here's my electricity usage data (personal details removed): [PASTE MONTHLY OR HOURLY USAGE]. My utility, [UTILITY], offers these plans: [PASTE PLAN NAMES, RATES, PEAK HOURS]. 1) Describe when I use the most electricity. 2) Estimate my annual cost on each plan, showing the math and labeling it as an estimate. 3) Suggest realistic usage shifts that would make a time-of-use plan cheaper. 4) Write questions to ask the utility before switching.
2. Follow these steps
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What to expect, and what to do if they say no
What happened when people tried it
Reported She was told she could have saved £45 on electricity in the previous month (potentially about £540 a year) and £86 on gas over the past year, and switched, for a possible saving of £626 a year.
What the AI did: A UK personal finance journalist used a ChatGPT script to approach her energy supplier, Octopus. After a phone discussion, the supplier suggested an hourly 'agile' electricity tariff and a variable gas tariff based on her usage.
Source: Manchester Evening News (reporting the i Paper) · 2025-07-28 · Journalist's first-person test; savings are estimates
Reported The poster says savings were already showing on the bill; no dollar figure was given.
What the AI did: A Phoenix resident had ChatGPT analyze APS bills and hourly usage, then changed scheduling and usage habits.
Source: Reddit r/phoenix · 2025 · Self-reported; not independently verified
Why this works
The problem: Many households stay on a default plan without checking whether a time-of-use or different plan would cost less for their usage.
How AI helps: AI can read your bills or hourly usage data, estimate which plan suits your habits, suggest usage shifts, and write questions for your utility.
Tools & what they cost
| Tool | Cost |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT | Free option available (Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this) Free tier; paid plans available |
| Claude | Free option available (Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this) Free tier; paid plans available |
What do these labels mean?
- Free No cost at all.
- Free option available Paid upgrades exist, but the free version works for this.
- Costs money You pay a set price or subscription.
- Takes a cut of savings Charges a percentage of what it saves you.
- Time · Difficulty Our estimates for a typical first try, not guarantees.
- Reported What the linked source says happened, often self-reported. Your results will vary.
Watch out for
- Time-of-use plans can cost more if you can't shift usage away from peak hours.
- The UK example's £626 is an estimate based on past usage, not a confirmed saving.
Was this helpful?
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Sources
- https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-asked-chatgpt-help-slash-32152064
- https://www.reddit.com/r/phoenix/comments/1pvglgc/chatgpt_saved_me_money_on_my_energy_bill_with_aps/
Last verified 2026-10-19. Not financial, legal, tax or medical advice. Disclaimer.