How to choose a tariff?
To better understand which tariff works best for you, try answering these 3 questions:
What are the things that your household cannot turn off?
Think about life saving medical equipment, the fridge, router etc.
2. When does your household use the most power all at once?
This is called peak demand.
Think about when your household returns from school or work, when you have guests over, etc.
3. What are the appliances your household can use at different times?
This is called load shifting.
Think about changing the time you use the dishwasher, when you cook or shower etc.
Now that you understand your electricity use better, let’s see which tariff will work for you.
If you have smart meter you can choose between flat, time-of-use and demand tariffs.
If you do not have smart meter, you can only have flat tariff. Keep in mind that we will have smart meter by 2030. This means that more tariffs could be available soon.
Flat
If your peak demand is mostly during peak tariff (expensive time of the day), and you cannot load shift, then a flat tariff is likely for you.
Time-of-Use
If your peak demand is mostly during off-peak tariff (cheaper time of the day), or you can load shift several appliances most days, then a Time-of-Use might be for you.
Demand tariffs are rarely beneficial for anyone.