Block & Index: lock the hours that matter most
You lock a set amount of power at a locked price, like a standing order. The block can cover every hour of the week, or only the hours you choose, such as weekday peak hours. Anything outside the block, or above it, is bought at the market price. Unused block is sold back at market.
How it works
Pick the shape of your block
A block doesn't have to run all day. You choose which hours it covers. The name tells you the days and hours: 5x16 means 5 days a week, 16 hours a day.
Around the clock
The same block every hour, every day. Fits loads that never stop, like data centers and 24/7 plants.
Weekday peak
Monday to Friday, 6am to 10pm. Locks the busiest, most expensive hours. Nights and weekends stay on the market.
Every day, peak hours
6am to 10pm, seven days a week. For sites that run hard on weekends too.
Weekend daytime
Saturday and Sunday, 6am to 10pm. Often added on top of a weekday block.
Nights
10pm to 6am, every day. For night shifts, cold storage, charging and other overnight loads.
Built around your site
Stack shapes, use a different size each month, or lock summer only. We shape the block to your real usage.
Example: lock peak hours, buy nights at market
Why 24/7 sites like it
Lock the risky hours
Afternoon and evening peaks are where price spikes happen. A peak block protects those hours.
Use cheaper hours
Nights and weekends are often lower priced. Leaving them on the market lets you benefit when the grid is quiet.
Mix and match
Pair a round-the-clock base block with a weekday peak block on top, and let the rest float. We size each piece from your usage.
Who it fits
- Steady 24/7 loads like data centers and plants
- Sites with a predictable base load
- Buyers who want peak hours locked and room to use the market at night
The trade-off
Your block is protected. Hours outside the block, and usage above or below it, move with the market, so a hot afternoon or a slow week can cost or credit you.
Common questions
How big should the block be?
Usually close to your steady load during the hours you lock. Your usage data tells us; that's what the free load analysis is for.
Can the block cover only some hours?
Yes. Many large users lock weekday peak hours and leave nights and weekends on the market, when prices are usually lower. We can also stack shapes, size them by month, or lock summer only.
Can this work with load reduction programs?
Yes. Market-based structures like this one are usually what those programs require.
Not sure which one fits?
Send us a recent bill or let us pull your usage, and we'll do a free load analysis. We'll price the options side by side and tell you which fits, in plain English.
Talk to Strategic Client ServicesOther ways to buy: Fixed · Percent Fixed · Index