It is not only how much you consume that counts, but also how hard you peak.
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Since the introduction of the capacity tariff, something has changed in the way part of your grid bill is calculated. Where previously mainly the total number of kilowatt hours counted, the capacity tariff also looks at your peak power: the highest quarter of an hour in which you draw electricity in a month.
This means that two households with the same annual consumption can still be billed differently, depending on how concentrated their consumption is. Anyone who runs all heavy appliances at the same time draws a higher peak than someone who spreads that same consumption out. In this article we explain exactly what the capacity tariff is and how steering and storage help you flatten your peak.
The capacity tariff is a part of the grid tariff that is linked to your measured monthly peak instead of only to your total consumption. In concrete terms, the digital meter looks at the quarter of an hour in which you drew the most power, and that peak moment counts towards what you pay for using the grid.
The underlying idea is that a more even load puts less strain on the grid than short, high peaks. The tariff therefore rewards those who spread their consumption. We deliberately do not mention any amounts here, because they depend on your grid operator and your situation, but the principle applies generally: your peak counts.
A high peak often arises because several heavy consumers coincide: an electric car charging while the oven, the heat pump and the hob are on. By not running all those appliances at the same time, you keep your consumption more even and draw a lower peak.
Some consumers are easy to shift, such as charging at night or a boiler that heats up outside peak hours. Others require a bit more coordination, and that is exactly where an energy management system comes in.
An energy management system monitors your instantaneous consumption and controls appliances so that they do not stack on top of each other. If, for example, you want to charge your car while a lot of power is already being drawn, dynamic charging can temporarily reduce the charging power so that your peak does not overshoot.
A home battery adds buffer to this: at a moment of high demand, the battery supplies part of the power, so you have to draw less from the grid all at once. This keeps your peak lower without you having to sacrifice comfort. How much this matters for you depends on your consumption pattern and your installation, and we will look at that during a site visit.
Do not run all heavy appliances at the same time to avoid overlapping peaks.
Temporarily dialling back your car's charging power when a lot of power is already being drawn.
An EMS monitors your instantaneous power draw and coordinates loads automatically.
A home battery supplies power at peak moments so you draw less from the grid.
With control and storage you flatten your peak consumption without losing comfort. Request a site visit and we will look at what suits your consumption profile.
