What about day and night power? We found out whether you can reduce your energy bill by using this.
How do you know if you are using night power?
If you look at your energy supplier’s bill, you will probably see something like ‘double rate’, ‘T2’ or ‘single rate’. Double rate, also known as T2, means that you pay less for energy at night, on weekends and on public holidays. During the day you pay a little more.
Single rate means that your energy price remains the same day and night.
Since July 1, 2021 you can only use the double rate if you have a smart meter in your meter cupboard. Such a meter can be read remotely by energy suppliers.
When does the nightly rate start?
It differs per province when the nightly rate for electricity starts exactly. In Limburg and North Brabant, the night current starts at 9 p.m. All other provinces use 23:00 as the border. Night power lasts until 7:00 am.
You also pay the off-peak rate on weekends and public holidays. The weekend starts on Friday at the time when the night current normally starts.
Is night power really cheaper?
It depends on. If you use electricity all day long because you work at home or turn on the dishwasher a lot during the day, night power is not necessarily cheaper. Even if you have an electric heat pump or a tropical aquarium, for example, you probably use electricity all day long.
But if 60-70% of your energy use is in the evening or at the weekend, it may pay to switch to a double energy tariff, writes Essent.
That’s how it works: the single rate is usually higher than the off-peak rate, but lower than the standard rate.
However, you probably won’t get much benefit if you switch to a double rate. Comparison site Independer.nl calculated that even if you only use electricity at night, the difference between the rates is at most 1 or 2 euros per month. Still a pity.
“The differences used to be greater,” explains Jenny Huttinga of Netbeheer Nederland nu.nl. “Many people still feel that it is better to run the dishwasher late at night.”
Of course, every little bit helps now that energy bills are skyrocketing. But these tips to save energy probably help better.
Source: Essent, Nu.nl , independer