Three-tariff counter: pros and cons

На уплату счетов за электроэнергию может уходить much of the family budget. To save even a little money, many enterprising homeowners listen to the advice of management companies and decide to install a three-tariff counter in their home.

Such a device, unlike the usual accountantelectricity, registers power consumption differentially, that is, at different time intervals. Why it can be profitable from an economic point of view and how can it still cut utility bills? We will try to figure it out.

Who needs it?

Obviously, the power consumptionhappens unevenly. In order to at least somehow reduce the costs associated with the maintenance of equipment, and to push users to create a uniform load during the day, experts suggested that residents install a three-tariff electricity meter.

The thing is that at night, when mostresidents of cities and towns sleeping, the load on the substation is minimal. In the morning, around 7 o'clock in the morning, when people start to wake up, there comes the so-called morning peak. It lasts until 10-11 o'clock in the afternoon. Then, energy consumption is reduced to an average value and remains almost unchanged until the evening peak - the moment when people start coming from work. Evening peak lasts from 17-18 to 23 hours.

Волнообразный характер потребления электричества affects the operation of the electrical substation: in the morning and in the evening it functions at full capacity, in the daytime - at the optimum level, and at night it is practically inactive. As a result, an unevenly distributed load accelerates the wear of mechanisms, and, consequently, increases operating costs.

Differential Accounting

To minimize operating costsIt is proposed to use a three-tariff counter. The essence of its use lies in the fact that energy consumption is recorded differentially, that is, the amount of consumed resources is recorded separately during the day, at night, in the morning and evening peaks.

Cost of "day", "night" and "peak" kWenergy is different. The daily rate usually corresponds to the cost of one kilowatt of electricity in the ordinary accounting. The cost of the night is 50-70% lower, but during the morning and evening highs, the price of electricity is usually the highest and may even be 70% higher than the day's.

You, reducing consumption in the morning and evening, butincreasing the load on the grid at night, you can save a lot. This is the main advantage of using a three-tariff counter, which will record not only the amount of energy used, but also the time of consumption.

When is a multi-tariff meter profitable?

The calculation on a three-tariff electricity meter will be beneficial only if the inequality is fulfilled:

Here p_Mr., P_d, P_P - accordingly consumption at night, in the afternoon and during peak load (in the morning and in the evening), P_to - total energy consumption per day, C_Mr., C_d and t_P - the cost of electricity at the appropriate time of day, C_about - the price of one kW of electricity in one-rate calculation.

For substantial savings will havechange your daily routine. For example, to run a washing machine and dishwasher at night, and in the morning and in the evening, if possible, refuse to turn on some household appliances.

We must not forget that the three-tariff counter shouldstill pay off. Calculate the payback period (excluding inflation) is easy. To do this, you must divide the cost of the device by the amount that it allows you to save per month. By averaged calculations, this period is up to 12-16 months.

Advantages and disadvantages

Говорить о преимуществах и недостатках multi-tariff electricity metering is possible only if you compare it with a two-and one-rate calculation system. In the first case, it is possible to achieve significant savings in cash and reduce the payback period. In the second, the difference may not be so noticeable due to the fact that a three-tariff counter is 3-4 times more expensive than usual.

It is important to remember that the cost of one kWElectricity in different regions is different. Thus, in the city, the difference between the “daily” and “night” prices can be 50-70%, while outside the city limits, in country houses or in the countryside, this figure is at the level of 5-10%.

Maintenance of multi-tariff meters

Speaking of costs, one can not touch the topicmaintenance devices. All three-tariff meters are complex electronic devices that, before commissioning, are not only connected to the power system, but are also programmed — for each dial that time range is entered during which it must record the readings.

Очевидно, что выполнять подобные процедуры могут only employees of a specialized company, for example, Mosenergo. The three-tariff counter, like the standard recording device, needs to be checked once every 16 years.

In the design of these devices are lithiumbatteries that retain the settings in the event of a power outage. Their performance is hardly enough for the time interval between checks. So be prepared that in the middle of the term you will have to call in experts to replace the batteries.

Ways to increase savings

The main way to increase savings whenmulti-tariff calculation system is changing its daily routine. If possible, try to wash, charge cell phones, turn on air conditioners and use other household appliances only at night.

Refitting your home is another way.savings, if you intend to install a three-tariff counter. Tariffs for electricity consumption in apartments where an electric stove is installed are 50-60% lower than in houses with gas burners. At the same time, you can save not only on electricity, but also on gas.

Remember that at the three-time counter timeTariffs are set by the legislature separately in each region one year in advance, and it differs from the time intervals set for dual-tariff appliances. Do not forget to take this into account when calculating cash savings.