Savings potential of off-peak electricity tariffs: This is how experts judge the two-tariff measurement
Created: 05/11/2022, 08:12
By: Jonas Napiletzki
Electricity is also becoming more expensive in Munich.
That's what the public utility announced.
Do off-peak electricity tariffs represent a way of saving costs?
That's what experts say about it.
Munich - With classic one-tariff contracts, the matter is clear: electricity costs the consumer the same regardless of the time of day or night.
Now that, for example, Stadtwerke München wants to more than double the price of electricity in the basic supply, there is a need for potential savings.
Two-tariff metering is one way of reducing costs.
Their principle is simple: during a fixed time period for the night, often between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., electricity costs less than during the day.
This can save money and relieves the power grid when consumption shifts.
However, there are several catches.
Night shift: Household appliances could also run more cheaply – with a two-tariff meter.
(symbol photo) © Christin Klose/dpa-tmn
Stadtwerke München (SWM) says it offers its private customers the option of two-tariff metering in all tariffs.
For whom it is worthwhile depends on the respective needs, says SWM spokesman Michael Silva.
From his point of view, the option is only really relevant for customers with special configurations, for example if a heat pump or electricity storage heater is operated.
"Unless the customer knows that he explicitly needs a lot of electricity during the NT period (off-peak tariff, ed.)", says Silva.
It could be business people.
"Otherwise it's not worth it, since the basic price is also higher due to the two-tariff metering, which would first have to be amortized by NT consumption."
Assess energy experts: for whom are smart electricity tariffs worthwhile?
The online comparison
portal Verivox
last examined so-called smart electricity tariffs in February 2021.
"Still rare and expensive," was the conclusion.
Time-variable electricity tariffs were only found at eight out of 50 local electricity suppliers in the largest German cities.
"Even under the hypothetical assumption that the model household shifts its entire power consumption to the cheapest time zone, none of the smart meter tariffs examined is cheaper than the cheapest available offer with fair contract terms," energy expert Thorsten Stock is quoted as saying.
Also, the majority of consumption cannot be shifted into the night anyway.
Today, says
Verivox
spokesman Lundquist Neubauer, basic suppliers are cheaper on average.
If a “considerable majority” of consumption were to take place at night, the tariffs could be worthwhile.
Check24
spokesman Edgar Kirk also
names customers with heat pumps, night storage heaters or electric cars as a potential target group.
"Whether and for whom the offers are worthwhile should be clarified individually by comparing offers."
