Advantages and disadvantages of night electricity tariff

It would be nice to reduce your electricity bills without resorting to illegal methods - twisting, attaching magnets, installing additional emitters, etc. Do you agree? This seems unlikely to consumers, but housing and communal services organizations claim that modern two-tariff electricity meters will help save money. Is it really?

In this publication we will talk about what two-tariff meters are and how they work. Let's calculate the real benefits of using a modern metering device and find out which consumers will benefit from installing such a metering device, and who would be better off using a conventional electricity meter.

The essence of multi-tariff electricity metering

Throughout the day, electricity is consumed unevenly by the population. If during the day the stations operate at full capacity, then in the evenings the load on them is minimal. As a result, during the daytime hours, when consumption peaks, all generators operate, but at night some of them stop.

Uneven operation of equipment that consumes a lot of fuel causes excessive consumption of resources. As a result, the costs of producing electrical energy are rising sharply. To reduce costs, suppliers have introduced tariffs differentiated by day zones. At night, electricity is cheaper, which encourages people to use it more actively at night, thereby shifting the maximum consumption. You can take advantage of this advantageous offer by installing a three-tariff or two-tariff meter.

Device options and specifications

A number of models of metering devices are supplemented with modules through which readings are transmitted to the energy supply organization via the Internet. However, it is recommended to purchase a device with such a mechanism after the supplier confirms that this functionality is supported by the network.

Also, a two-tariff meter can be supplemented with the following options:

• recording information about readings for previous months;
• instant calculation of current voltage, active power and energy consumption (multimeter function);
• recording moments of power surges;
• reflection of phase change points, peak energy consumption and other functions.

A number of models are capable of delivering energy consumption readings to users' computers. But in practice, connecting these devices with advanced functionality is unprofitable: the options described are usually not used.

What time does the night electricity tariff start from?

There are 3 options for charging electricity consumption:

• single;
• two-zone;
• three-zone.

The payment coefficient is uniform and constant; the time of day does not affect it.

If a single tariff is established, a traditional meter without differentiation is used to calculate costs. It is used only by those consumers who do not want to change equipment.

To use a two-zone tariff, you must install a two-tariff meter. The equipment will calculate the level of consumption in different time zones: from 7:00 to 23:00 the daily, more expensive tariff is valid. At 23:00 the device starts calculating costs at the night rate. When calculating payments for services, it is necessary to multiply the data from the meter by the tariff established in the region. In the utility receipt, the data is entered in 2 lines (for day and night tariffs).

The three-zone tariff works on a principle similar to the two-zone one, but the time frame is slightly different:

• the night rate is valid from 23:00 to 7:00;
• semi-peak zones include the intervals from 10:00 to 17:00 and from 21:00 to 23:00;
• Peak times are from 7:00 to 10:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.

Who will benefit from a two-tariff meter?

From the calculations above, it is clear that a two-tariff meter allows you to save money. But not everyone will benefit from this method.

A two-tariff flow meter is needed in the following cases:

1. A person actively uses electrical appliances and turns on the lights at home after 11 pm. For example, he comes home after work at 10 pm. If the whole family goes to bed before 11 pm, then a two-tariff meter will not be profitable, because the main electricity consumption will be calculated at an increased daily tariff.
2. The apartment has many electrical appliances (including heated floors), and the chandeliers have ordinary incandescent light bulbs. In this case, a lot of electricity is consumed, and the benefits of using a two-tariff electric meter will be noticeable. If at home you only have a refrigerator, a washing machine and a TV that rarely turns on, then the savings will be insignificant.
3. In a private house, electricity is required to operate heating, hot water and lighting systems. Moreover, heating boilers consume a large amount of electricity. But cottage owners have the opportunity to control the operation of boilers using a timer and start them only at a certain time (after 11 pm).

If a person leads a nocturnal lifestyle, then he will be able to experience the benefits of installing a two-tariff meter.

In all other cases, the benefit will be in question, since you will have to pay extra for installing the meter. Installation of the simplest two-tariff electricity meter according to Mosenergo tariffs will cost almost 4 thousand rubles. Prices may vary in other regions.

Tariff validity period

With a two-tariff calculation method, the night tariff for electricity is applied, the time of its use is from 23:00 to 7:00. It is worth calculating how much you can save by using it.

For example, in 2022, the simple electricity tariff for the Moscow region is 4.04 rubles/kWh. If we consider a two-tariff system, then during daylight hours users pay 4.65 rubles/kWh, and during dark hours the tariff applies with a coefficient of 1.26 rubles/kWh. Despite the fact that the difference between the single and daily two-rate system is 61 kopecks. in favor of the first, the savings are obvious. Electricity consumption at night will be more than 3 times cheaper.

Savings are only possible if a person is not at home during the daytime, but can do some household chores at night. Experts have calculated that switching to a differentiated tariff is beneficial if the consumer consumes at least 500 kW monthly.

Which meter is better to install in an apartment or a house?

There are two large groups of electricity meters. They differ significantly in characteristics, operating principles, and design:

1. Induction - represented by a device with a dial and rotating numbers.
2. Electronic - the display shows numbers showing the amount of energy consumed.

Induction

The essence of the work lies in the two coils available in the design, one of which reflects voltage, the second - current. The function of the voltage coil is to limit the action of alternating current. It generates a magnetic field flux corresponding to the network voltage. By means of a current coil, an alternating current is created in the device, equal to the current in the network.

Both coils, when operating, form a magnetic field that acts on the aluminum disk and causes it to rotate. Induction meters for electricity consumption are gradually being phased out, but today millions of models are still used in homes.

Before purchasing this device, you should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the device. For convenience, the information is summarized in tabular form:

Relatively recently, there was nothing to replace induction meters, so they were considered universal. Now this design has been advanced by more modern devices. Although the induction device is easy to use, it has large errors in readings.

Electronic

The essence of the operation of an electric meter lies in the transformation of an analog signal into a digital one, which then enters the controller. Here the signal is decoded and numbers with readings are displayed.

Before using this device, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the device. For convenience, the data is presented in tabular form:

If you choose between two types of electricity meters, it is better to give preference to electronic devices. But you need to understand that accuracy class 2.0 in induction devices is considered normal for an apartment, although it is gradually being phased out.

Temporary peak zones

By tracking daily dynamics, you can identify several temporary peak zones, or rush hours.

1. The morning peak occurs between 7:00 and 10:00.
2. After the morning peak comes the first half-peak. This day zone includes the hours from 10:00 to 17:00. There is a load on the network, but it is not too great.
3. The evening peak starts at 17:00 and ends at 21:00.
4. The duration of the second half-peak zone is from 21:00 to 23:00.

The night zone is not considered a peak zone, since from 23:00 to 7:00 costs are minimal. To save on utility bills, you should install a special meter and try to use powerful appliances at night. On a two-tariff meter, day and night (evening) are designated as T1 and T2. The first period starts at 7:00, the second at 23:00. Peak hours are taken into account when using three-tariff meters.

How to speed up the payback of such a device?

The payback of a two-tariff meter is a separate topic. You need to pay a tidy sum for installing or reflashing the device. These devices are not installed free of charge and are more expensive than standard single-tariff flow meters.

We talked about the cost of installing and replacing electric meters in this material.

A two-tariff meter of any brand is more expensive than a single-tariff meter due to the features of the software and more complex functionality

Externally, a two-tariff electric meter is no different from a standard meter. The difference between them lies only in the readings, which display information for night and daytime differently.

Due to the fact that the dimensions of the meters are the same, a new device can be installed in place of the old one.

Any person who understands electricity and fire safety can install a new two-tariff meter, but only an employee of the company providing the service can seal the device

Before installation, you need to evaluate the feasibility of using the device and, perhaps, settle on a single-tariff device.

If an electric meter is already installed, you can think about the optimal consumption of electricity:

• turn on the washing machine and dishwasher only after 23:00;
• set a timer on the multicooker so that it starts cooking before the household wakes up, i.e. until 7 am;
• start the water heating mode in the boiler (if there is one) only at night, and during the day activate the temperature maintenance function in it (maintaining the water temperature requires much less electricity than heating it).

In this case, you will be able to save about 200 rubles per month. Those. The installation of an electric meter will take 2 years.

If you don’t try to use electrical appliances after 23:00, then there will be no tangible benefit, because even the meter itself will take about 5 years (if not more).

Day-night tariff

The two-phase method of calculating electricity is otherwise called the day-night tariff. It operates in many regions of our country, but tariffs for the population vary. The differentiated regime is especially popular in the capital. It is beneficial to people who:

• actively use powerful electrical appliances, such as bread makers, boilers, dishwashers;
• equipped their apartments with warm floors or a convection heating system;
• have large country houses with an extensive lighting system, well or sewage pump, etc.

Connection diagram

As a rule, the connection diagram is indicated on the device itself or in the instructions for it. Below is the simplest diagram according to which you can quickly, independently and without unnecessary problems connect any unit.

The simplest connection diagram

In general, a two-tariff electric meter is a device that operates in an economical mode by reducing the consumption of energy resources and protecting the home electrical network from tripping of protective equipment. It has its pros and cons. It is profitable to install it, according to user reviews.

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Advantages of night tariff for electricity

The advantages of the preferential tariff are obvious:

1. Electricity consumers can achieve good cash savings. To do this, you need to adjust your regime, reducing daytime, but increasing nighttime electricity consumption.
2. Suppliers are able to reduce the load on equipment, resulting in less wear and tear and fewer breakdowns. This allows you to save budget funds.
3. Evenly distributed load on electrical grids is a good way to save the fuel needed to produce energy.
4. Due to the absence of overloads, the amount of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere is reduced.
5. Modern metering devices are equipped with built-in memory modules. They allow you to save meter readings even if there is a power outage.

However, users should note that different cities have different preferential rates. Before switching to a differential system, experts recommend making calculations and finding out how profitable such a solution is. If only the refrigerator operates in the house at night, the consumer should think about the need for a two-tariff system. Before the transition, you should calculate how long it will take to pay off the costs of new equipment and electrician services.

Choosing the right electricity meter

Before going to the store, you must carefully familiarize yourself with the product and its characteristics that are provided to customers. What you should pay attention to first:

• What is the current voltage that enters the apartment or private house;
• How much power is consumed during the entire operation;
• What is the frequency?

Indirect characteristics include:

• memory storage devices;
• RCD;
• mechanisms to prevent surges from overvoltage in the electrical network.

It is definitely worth remembering that the electric meter must comply with all state standards. Therefore, before purchasing, experts advise contacting the supplier company for advice on the characteristics of the unit.

Under no circumstances should you purchase a meter from strangers or representatives of dubious companies. The company is required to provide a special permit for the sale of electricity, water and gas supply meters. It is best to purchase a meter from the ETM chain of stores. They have long been popular in the market for reasonable prices, reliability and excellent quality.

Disadvantages of the night tariff

The differential tariff has not only advantages. The multi-tariff system also has several disadvantages:

1. With the increase in nighttime electricity consumption, users have to monitor the operation of home appliances in the dark. As a result, a person’s daily sleep and wakefulness patterns are disrupted, which is fraught with health problems.
2. If devices are left to operate unattended, there is a high risk of fire or flooding.
3. Noisy household appliances, such as a washing machine, can prevent neighbors or family members from getting a good night's sleep.

Another disadvantage is the initial cost of installing a new meter. However, when using a two-tariff meter, the savings are so great that they will pay for themselves in the first year.

Installation method

Two-phase electricity meters should only be installed where electricity is distributed according to the number of phases available. Three-phase ones also work according to a similar scheme. In addition to the fact that this meter shows electricity readings separately during the day and separately at night, it can record each connected phase.

Energy in a two-phase meter can be counted both active and reactive. In addition, it allows you to set your own limits so that the network is disconnected from power automatically, that is, according to a timer.

Many people ask “how to connect a two-tariff meter.” It is best to contact an electrician who is experienced and qualified in this matter. This could be a representative of the electricity supply company or a called technician. The main task of these specialists is to correctly install the meter so that in the future there are no problems with the voltage and power of the current entering the apartment. Knowledge of safety precautions during electrical work is required.

Many people do not know how to install the meter in its place and experience difficulties. Everything happens exactly the same as with a regular counter:

• Removing the old unit from its place. All fillings must be removed;
• Placing and securing a new metering device in place of the previous one;
• Carrying out a small test for the meter: special measuring tools are used for this. After this, you need to configure the meter to the current tariff in the country or city;
• Checking how the unit works: turning it on and operating it;
• Sealing a new electric meter.

How to take readings from a three-tariff meter and calculate payment for the current month

If a three-tariff meter is installed, the steps for submitting data and the calculation scheme are similar to those described above. The only difference is that calculations must be made according to three tariffs. The essence of the calculations remains the same: