Is it profitable to install two-tariff meters to save energy

Every year, utility bills are skyrocketing, prompting people to look for ways to reduce these costs. Two-tariff electricity meters are becoming more and more popular, since they record the amount of consumed resources spent in the daytime and at night, and the cost of energy consumed varies depending on the time of day.

What is the principle of economy

Electricity consumption is not uniform throughout the day. In the morning, the load on the electrical networks increases rapidly, in the afternoon it reaches its peak, and in the evening it declines. Such loads negatively affect the performance, power and functionality of electrical communications. To prevent voltage sagging and to reduce the number of breakdowns, power supply companies have developed a multi-tariff payment system. To implement such a system, special two-tariff electricity meters were required, in which the prices for the used volume of the resource depend on the time of consumption.

For example, if you turn on the dishwasher or washing machine after 23 hours, the cost of consumption will be lower, while the load on the network during the daytime will decrease.

Difference between day and night energy consumption

Lighting lamps shine brighter at night than in the evening. You can verify this personally. This tendency is most pronounced in places remote from the transformer substation, for example, in urban-type settlements or villages. In some cases, these drops have critical marks, therefore, it becomes necessary to purchase voltage stabilizers.

In the united energy systems designed to provide resource for apartment buildings, it is enough to purchase and install improved two-tariff metering devices.

The cost of each 1 kW consumed in the daytime by a two-tariff design is higher in comparison with an ordinary meter. At night, a preferential tariff becomes active, which allows you to reduce the item of expenses intended for paying for utilities.

The principle of electricity metering at night

The manufacturer at the stage of manufacturing the electricity meter programs it for two time periods:

• Daytime - from 07:00 to 23:00.
• Night time - from 23:00 to 07:00.

During the daytime, the standard rates are active in the specific region. The difference in the cost of the resource consumed in the evening and at night is significant in some areas, but not particularly in others.

To understand the accounting principle and the difference, it is worth considering an example of previously relevant tariff plans in large cities.

Thanks to this system, power engineers manage to effectively distribute the load on the networks, and the owners of living space to reduce costs.

Device options and specifications

Manufacturers make many modifications of two-tariff electric meters. The more functions they are equipped with, the higher the cost.The main task of each device is to conditionally divide the consumption accounting by time and display all data on the built-in display.

More advanced models can be remotely connected to a computer, from where information is fed to the appropriate organizations.

Some devices are equipped with memory cards, which store all the data on expenses for a month. This is a very handy feature that allows you to resolve disputes with service providers. There are other additional options:

• Monitoring the stability of the voltage in the electrical network.
• Control of the current value.
• Display on the device panel of all data for monitoring power consumption in real time.

Despite the large assortment of two-tariff metering devices, the models from the manufacturer Mercury are in the greatest demand.

Pros and cons of two-tariff meters

Innovative metering devices are rapidly gaining popularity due to a large number of advantages:

• The operation of such devices contributes to the improvement of the ecological situation. This is due to the fact that the amount of emissions from fuel combustion is reduced due to uneven distribution of the load.
• Saving the family budget. The purchase and installation of a new metering device pays off in about a year of its correct use.
• Unloading electrical substations. Energy supplying companies will not be forced to resort to frequent repairs, the system will operate normally.

Most consumers are not concerned with the sustainability of appliances and rationalization of supply, so the biggest benefit for residents is the reduction in utility bills.

Disadvantages of two-rate meters:

• In some regions of the country, the difference between day and night rates is minimal. For example, the price of 1 kW in the daytime is only 15% higher than at night. The savings are not tangible.
• Cost savings can only be achieved with the correct use of household appliances.

To save money, you need to make adjustments to the usual use of technology.

How to take readings

Electricity meters with two tariffs display data with high accuracy. All information in real time is displayed on the built-in display. Additionally, the display shows information about the degree of load on the electrical network, which makes it possible to rationalize resource consumption.

The meter displays a large letter "T" with digital marking 1, 2 and 3. The meter is also equipped with a special "Enter" button designed to take readings at different rates.

The algorithm for taking readings from two-tariff electricity meters is as follows:

1. On a sheet of paper, fix the numbers at the daily rate (under the T1 marking).
2. By pressing the "Enter" button, display the readings for the night tariff. The information will be displayed under the T2 label.
3. Even below, write the data that was received last month.
4. Based on the new received data and old ones, you can calculate the amount of consumed resource during the current month. For this, the data for the last month is subtracted from the current readings.
5. Based on the data received, calculate the cost. To do this, each 1 kW of consumed electricity is multiplied by the cost for each tariff separately.
6. The resulting amounts for the night and day rates are added up.

The numbers following the decimal point on the display do not need to be recorded. They complicate the calculation process and often cause errors.

How to fill out receipts for electricity payment correctly

In most cases, consumers are forced to fill out receipts themselves, since energy supply companies do not track the paperwork.

Algorithm for filling in receipts:

1. You need to start by entering bank details. The data can be found in the contract between the consumer and the energy company.
2. Next, you should write the data about the consumer - the payer: full name, address, and also the number of the personal account.
3. The time period for which the payment is made is necessarily fixed. Typically, people pay utility bills once a month.
4. In the table, the first runoff is intended for entering data calculated according to the T1 tariff. Information is entered not only for the current month, but also for the past one. Information about the tariff rate and the amount to be paid is also recorded.
5. The next line is filled in in the same way, only the data is entered according to the T2 night tariff.
6. The final stage - all data are summarized.

The form of the completed receipt must be approved by the energy supply company. In some cases, it is additionally required to record the model of the meter. If the consumer has difficulties in filling out the receipts correctly, you can get detailed advice at the post offices where utility bills are paid. Most energy supply companies have their own website, where free consulting support is provided around the clock.

Two-tariff electricity meters are becoming more and more popular and in demand every year, as consumers find benefits in installing it. Taking readings and filling out receipts is not difficult, you just need to get used to the main features.