If you’re on a TEP time-of-use plan, the winter morning peak runs 6 to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday, October to April. The usual approach with a heat pump is to warm the house before 6 and avoid asking for a big temperature jump during the peak. The part that hurts is the electric backup heat, so keep it from switching on. Climate Pros Tucson matches you with licensed pros who can check how your system is set up.

What are TEP’s winter peak hours?

As listed on tep.com/time-of-use in October 2026, the winter on-peak is October to April, Monday to Friday, 6 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. The summer on-peak is a different window: May to September, Monday to Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. TEP also lists Basic, Peak Demand and Demand TOU as alternative plans.

Rates and rules change, so confirm the current terms with TEP. Trico Electric Cooperative customers in northwest Tucson, Marana, Green Valley and Sahuarita are on a different utility and should ask Trico.

How cold are Tucson mornings, really?

Mild by most winter standards. At Tucson International Airport, the 1991-2020 normals put January’s average high at 66.5F and the low at 40.8F. The airport sees fewer than 12 nights a year at or below 32F, and the City of Tucson’s code lists a winter design temperature of 35F. A heat pump handles that range as its normal work, which is why it’s the sensible default for a Tucson-basin home.

Mornings are the coldest part of the day, though, and they land right on the peak. That’s the collision this page is about.

How do you pre-heat before 6 a.m.?

Raise the thermostat schedule so the house is already comfortable when the peak starts, then let it hold or drift through 9.

  • Set the warm-up to finish before 6 a.m. A heat pump heats gradually, so start early enough.
  • Use a thermostat built for heat pumps. A smart or programmable model with heat pump settings can manage the schedule. See smart thermostat with a heat pump.
  • Keep doors, vents and filters in order. A clogged filter makes the system work longer.
  • Don’t expect the house to hold warmth forever. A leaky house or duct system gives it back, and ENERGY STAR says a typical forced-air house can lose about 20% to 30% of the air moving through its ducts to leaks and poor connections. That’s a national figure for a typical house, not a Tucson measurement.

Why are backup heat strips the expensive part?

Many heat pumps carry electric resistance strips as backup heat. Strips turn electricity directly into heat, and they use more electricity than the heat pump doing the same job. If they run during the 6 to 9 a.m. peak, that’s the worst combination on the bill.

The strips switch on when the heat pump can’t keep up, when you ask for a large jump, or when the system is in emergency heat. Ask the pro how your thermostat and equipment decide when the strips run, and whether the settings can be changed. Aux heat and emergency heat on a Tucson heat pump explains how to read the thermostat and when long strip runs mean a fault.

What limits should you put on a setback?

A deep overnight setback can backfire on a heat pump. If you let the house fall many degrees, the recovery in the morning is exactly when the system may call for the strips, and right when the peak begins.

Safer habits:

  • Use a small setback, not a big one.
  • Start recovery before 6 a.m., not at 6.
  • Ask whether your thermostat has a setting that holds the strips back during recovery.
  • Check your manual for any limits the manufacturer sets on setbacks.

What about frost and steam on cold mornings?

A heat pump’s outdoor unit can frost on a cold, damp morning and then run a defrost cycle. Steam from the unit during defrost is common. Read heat pump frozen or steaming outdoor unit to tell normal from a fault, and heat pump not heating if the house won’t warm at all.

Does the TEP rebate matter here?

If you’re shopping for a heat pump, TEP’s Efficient Home Program lists an instant rebate through participating contractors, up to $720 for a heat pump quality installation as listed by TEP in October 2026. Confirm eligibility with TEP or the contractor at quote time.

More on equipment is in heat pump service and the Tucson HVAC hub. For summer, see the best TEP rate plan for AC.

When mornings still cost too much

If the backup strips run often, the house won’t warm, or you’re unsure how your thermostat is set up, call (520) 353-2520 and we’ll match you with a licensed local pro.