Surge (electricity) pricing

[AE-NMidlands]

I heard something on the radio this morning but it hasn't been repeated, or appeared on the BBC news website. Ofgem want it rolled out by 2025 (to smart meter holders)
A search just now pulled up an article in the Telegraph (behind a paywall,) the Sun https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/17605911 ... rgy-bills/

MILLIONS of households could soon be offered electricity tariffs with prices that change every half hour.

"Surge pricing" on energy bills will be possible thanks to smart meters, with people paying more at peak times and less at quieter times.
Under new powers for energy regulator Ofgem, the devices will send updates on energy usage every half hour automatically.

Anyone with a smart meter can do this now - if they opt in.
Making regular updates the default could give millions more households access to time of use tariffs.
On time of use (tou) tariffs, customers are charged more for energy at the busiest times, like evenings, and less at quieter times.
Scottish Power, EDF and Octopus Energy, which has 11million customers between them, support the changes the Telegraph reports.

Billpayers could benefit from lower prices, particularly if they shift their usage to quieter times when prices are cheaper.
/snip/
It means you can save money by using electricity in quieter times, for example putting washing on over night.
Ofgem has asked energy suppliers to bring in the changes by 2025.
Customers won't have to change to a time use tariff, but it could work out cheaper for bills.

but that article loses it amongst lots of other stuff.

I suppose bringing it in is inevitable, maybe to be welcomed. I'm surprised at the almost deafening silence today though. How come only the Telegraph has picked it up?
A

[marshman]

It was repeated on Radio 4's PM program today right at the end - just before 6pm. Didn't say much, had an interview with the boss of Octopus who in a round about way was pushing their TOU tariffs and also the new one that has been discussed on here where you are paid to encourage you to curtail use at peak times.

[nowty]

Its been reported in quite a few places, I nearly started a thread myself.

Basically Smart Meters may soon default to 1/2 hr readings rather than having a choice of 1/2 hr readings or daily readings. It has already been mandated for business users. The idea is so TOU tariffs will become the norm.

I would not be surprised if Smart meters will become mandatory or people are forced onto them because the alternative will be unbelievably high tariffs.

[Moxi]

My worry is this will be abused by the energy companies, peak period charges grossly inflated, cheap rates marginally reduced ? There needs to be a strictly regulated and transparent (NOT OFGEM then!) pricing system that is based on a wholesale cost plus basis - i don't see the power producers or the power companies liking their books being laid open for all to see.

Similarly mandated smart meters for the masses doesn't work because there are still broad swathes of the UK where people don't have reliable wifi, lets face it they couldn't get the gas grid laid to everyone in the 70's and 80's so on that basis they will no doubt try and get 80% of the population and leave the hard 20% to get on with it their selves - again.

The more I hear lately the less inclined I am to get a smart meter.

Moxi

[Mr Gus]

My worry is this will be abused by the energy companies, peak period charges grossly inflated, cheap rates marginally reduced ? There needs to be a strictly regulated and transparent (NOT OFGEM then!) pricing system that is based on a wholesale cost plus basis - i don't see the power producers or the power companies liking their books being laid open for all to see.

Similarly mandated smart meters for the masses doesn't work because there are still broad swathes of the UK where people don't have reliable wifi, lets face it they couldn't get the gas grid laid to everyone in the 70's and 80's so on that basis they will no doubt try and get 80% of the population and leave the hard 20% to get on with it their selves - again.

The more I hear lately the less inclined I am to get a smart meter.

Moxi

Exactly, +1 Moxi

[nowty]

There is quite a lot of worrying stuff going on at the moment.

EV chargers installed from mid this year having to meter the time and energy leccy flows. The consultation document also talked about even measuring power flows (behind the meter), suggesting that hybrid off grid systems may need to be monitored too.

This change of Smart meter surge pricing and mandatory half hour readings.

And earlier today I read from my DNO's website, that from Sept 2022 energy storage devices installed form that date may need to have the ability to switch from import to export based on grid frequency. I would not be surprised if energy storage units will also have to log energy flows just like EV chargers will have to.

And another article I read suggesting an energy levy charged on the use of energy storage devices if the energy was self used, I believe the issue was people avoiding high peak rate tariffs and therefore avoiding increased amounts of VAT.

[Mr Gus]

What was it Boris said about "all this green sh1t" !? ..The clown persona's real intent has been put into play.

We were all damn wary of smets 1 with good reason from the outset, (how long back)!?

To explain this to the layman I guess is to say, "you bought a tank of petrol at the advertised price, parked it up at home & got text because you bought & stored your fuel, but didn't use it, (your car surveillance path told us)..now the pump prices have gone up we are billing you for the difference"

Madness in effect.

Try that move on the stock market.

[Oliver90owner]

All EVs are storage devices…. Some can already supply mains grade leccy for use by the vehicle owner - thinking here an extension lead through a window from an Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6…

[Mike407]

Re loging Battery usage you seen this

Google

“California's 'bizarre' solar tax proposal”

From LA Times

The state Public Utilities Commission plan, released in December, includes a “grid participation charge” of $8-per-kilowatt of installed solar, which amounts to more than $50 a month in additional fees for a typical residential customer.


Plan to tax householders with solar panels by the KWp every month.

[Mr Gus]

Yup, this will encourage back yard "homebrew guerilla solar, undeclared, to top up the declared "obvious ones"

Won't end well this lack of foresight & greed to bleed people.

Just what big companies want, ..market domination, does this mean small private solar now links up as a co-operative company to work to not be "private" & take advantage of whatever loopholes are in place to knock down the charges?