Dynamic tariffs are currently all the rage. Here we answer the most important questions and also have a few special offers for you!
The most important facts in brief
Users with controllable appliances can particularly benefit from a dynamic electricity tariff and save money compared to other electricity offers
Dynamic electricity tariffs also support the energy transition by increasing the use of renewable energies
With the automatic control, the advantages of dynamic tariffs can be utilized particularly well
A smart meter is required so that the shift in consumption can be recorded, but there are also alternatives
Dynamic electricity tariffs: The smart way to reduce electricity costs
Dynamic electricity tariffs are an innovative way of pricing electricity that differs from traditional tariffs with fixed prices. With dynamic tariffs, the price of electricity fluctuates hourly with the price on the electricity exchange. This means that you can purchase electricity at significantly lower prices at certain times than at others.
Electricity prices on the exchange change hourly, depending on how much electricity is being produced and how high demand is. Dynamic tariffs pass on these price fluctuations directly to the consumer. When a lot of electricity is available from renewable sources such as wind and solar, the price falls. In times of high demand or low production, on the other hand, it rises.
Why can I save money with dynamic tariffs?
With dynamic tariffs, you can shift your electricity consumption to the times when electricity is cheapest. This means that your electric car can be charged when the price is low. In this way, you can significantly reduce your electricity costs, especially if you have high electricity consumption and controllable appliances.
You also contribute to the energy transition and greater use of renewable energy. If you avoid electricity consumption during expensive hours, there is a high probability that electricity will be sourced from conventional power plants that use gas or coal as fuel. Conversely, there is a strong correlation between low electricity prices and high levels of generation from renewable energies.
In the first quarter of 2024, our users would have paid an average of 25 cents (volume-weighted) for a kWh of electricity from the grid - if they had had a dynamic tariff.
That is an average of 4 cents less than the cheapest tariffs on the comparison portals. With an average grid consumption of 747 kWh per user in this period, that would be a saving of almost 30 euros. However, most people actually have a significantly more expensive tariff...
Who are dynamic tariffs suitable for?
Dynamic tariffs are particularly suitable for households with flexible electricity consumption and appliances that can be controlled. Drivers of electric cars in particular can therefore benefit from a dynamic tariff, as charging processes can be easily postponed. However, heat pumps, pool pumps, circulation pumps, heating elements and smart home appliances such as dishwashers etc. can also shift their electricity consumption to more favorable times.
If you are prepared to adjust your electricity consumption and take advantage of price fluctuations, you can save considerably with dynamic tariffs.
Automation for maximum savings
With the Home Energy Management System (HEMS), you can take full advantage of dynamic electricity tariffs. Our price signal control uses the current electricity prices to automatically control your compatible devices. This means that your consumption is automatically shifted to the cheapest times without you having to intervene manually.
We support a wide range of devices, including heat pumps, wallboxes for electric cars, battery storage and many other smart home devices. By integrating these devices into our HEMS, you can optimize your energy consumption and reduce your electricity costs without sacrificing convenience.
It's that simple:
Create your suitable electricity offer on the website.
Enter the voucher code RABOTxCPV after the price calculation.
Secure your low tariff and save €4.99 per month!
Why do I need a different meter for the dynamic tariff?
The major advantage of a dynamic tariff is that electricity consumption is shifted to hours with a favorable electricity price. However, the electricity consumption must also be recorded precisely for this. Conventional electricity meters from grid operators only measure consumption in total - for example, this is measured once a year for the entire year in the form of a meter reading.
Intelligent measuring systems (iMSys) - also known colloquially as smart meters - measure electricity consumption every 15 minutes. The rollout of iMSys in Germany will begin in 2025; at the request of the electricity customer, the grid operator must provide an iMSys within four months from 2025. Many electricity customers with PV systems, heat pumps or wallboxes will receive an iMSys anyway.
However, it is unclear when the grid operators or their metering point operators will manage to roll out the iMSys. Many users have already told us that their grid operator has announced that they will not be able to install the iMSys in the near future.
How do I get an intelligent metering system / smart meter?
From January 1, 2025, every grid user can request the installation of a smart metering system from their metering point operator. This is usually a sister company of the responsible grid operator. If the installation is carried out at the customer's request, the metering point operator may charge a maximum of 30 euros for this. The annual fee for operating the iMSys may only be between 20 and 50 euros.
However, if the metering point operator is unable to facilitate the installation in good time, another metering point operator can also be selected as a so-called “competitive metering point operator”. However, this operator is not bound by the statutory price caps and may therefore charge much more expensive fees for installation and operation. You should therefore carefully check the costs/benefits of early installation prior to installation.
More information on the website of the Federal Network Agency
Can I use a dynamic tariff without a smart meter?
Yes, a dynamic tariff can bring benefits even without an iMsys. In this case, consumption is distributed throughout the day based on a standard load profile. Typically, higher consumption is assumed in the morning, at midday and especially in the evening (between 5 and 10 pm).
Even in this case, a dynamic tariff can still be cheaper than a fixed tariff. However, if you have large controllable appliances, such as a wallbox or heat pump, the advantage may be smaller.
This is because the times when higher consumption is assumed in the standard load profile are very often also the times when the electricity price is significantly higher. If, for example, you charge your electric car at night during a period when the electricity price is low, this will not be recorded without a smart metering system and the amount of charging will be distributed throughout the day.
Is there an alternative to the smart meter?
Yes, customers whose metering point operators cannot afford to install an iMSys promptly and for whom the offers from competitive metering point operators are too expensive can still receive a bill based on their actual electricity consumption. A few providers of dynamic tariffs also allow electricity consumption to be billed using an unofficial meter. EnviaM in particular (with the iONA sensor) is currently doing this. Their optical readout sensors also record consumption every quarter of an hour, as with the smart meter.
What are the disadvantages of providers with optical readout sensors?
As a customer, you usually have no disadvantage. Quite the opposite: the lower costs for the optical readout sensors compared to a smart metering system may allow you to make additional savings.
However, one disadvantage of this solution is that the shift in electricity consumption in the electricity system as a whole is not recorded. The measurement of the optical sensor is only used for billing between the electricity supplier and the end customer. However, the standard load profile is assumed for the energy-related billing of the electricity supplier with the grid operators. This means that the electricity supplier must procure the electricity on the electricity markets in accordance with the standard load profile for the user. This means that electricity is still procured in the evening hours in particular, which may require the use of additional conventional power plants.