Good morning yes I know that usage is inherently down to lifestyle and patterns. However please does anyone have an idiots guide to Iberdrola. I have had a guy at the door offering this that and the other. Then the office contradicts the guy and offers two and year contacts.

I just wish to have a simple approach a neighbour says day and night usage others normal (whatever that means) tariffs.

thanks

What is your potencia and roughly how much do you spend each month?

If you are below the 10kW level, then I think the government rates can't be beaten - so stay on a 'normal' tariff.

Only you know when you use most of your electricity. For us, we use most when the children come home from school as that's when the PC's, TV's go on and also when they eat their main meal (so hob and oven). However, if you don't do that, then may be a dual meter (night and day) is the way to go.

A dual tariff will almost certainly save money as you get the cheap rate for 14 hours a day.

With a bit of planning, such as using washing machines and dishwashers during the cheap rate will save a lot. Pool pumps can easily be programmed to run in the cheap period, which runs from 11pm to 1pm in summer.

Over the year we use 68% of our power during the cheap rate and save over €800 a year.

With dual tariff, isn't the 'day rate' higher? For us, most of the consumption would be in the day rate so it's a complex calculation to see if it's worth while or not. Yes, things like w/m dish washer and pool can be on at night - even the hot water could be on a timer I guess, but the oven and hob are day rate items as are fridges and freezers.

Yes, the peak rate is about 20% higher and the cheap rate about 50% less.

It is clearly going to be better to use some timers and planning to get the best out of it. Even a constant load such as a fridge or freezer will save 20%.

Simple maths. Assume a load of one unit per hour. That would be 24 units per day. 14 units at 50% is 7 units. 10 units at 120% is 12 units. Total usage 19 units rather than 24.

I never could understand why they were so generous with the cheap rate. In the UK I think you only get about 8 hours.

My off peak usage varies during the year, mainly due to heating needs. The highest figure is 80% off peak in winter and the lowest is 61% in summer.