Time to give electricity the flick?

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567 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1574729 15-Jun-2016 21:58

What does 1 unit equal? 1kw/h?

I've got gas hotwater (30yo cylinder), but here is my electricity usage for June 1 as recorded by my clamp meter. I'm not with flick so I'm more about using less overall than time shifting. We have 2 adults working from home during the day so computers, coffee machines, lights, beauty related equipment. 17.55kw/h that day @ ~$0.22kw/h = $3.86 for the day (excl lines charges etc)

Speedtest

dantheperson

174 posts

Master Geek

#1577329 20-Jun-2016 17:58

What meter is that you are using that give you good data logging?

Amosnz

567 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1577340 20-Jun-2016 18:11

The engage hub kit.

http://efergy.com/nz/products/energy-gateways/

Speedtest

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1577956 21-Jun-2016 21:17

timmmay:
gchiu:

timmmay:

The bill hasn't gone down by as much as I expected, but in a few months or at the end of winter I'll do some calculations once Flick can supply data. The % saving has definitely increased since I did the hot water timer, and it will become even higher if peak prices rise.

Is this because you make the major savings just being on the market price?

I was meaning the bill after fitting the hot water timer that moved water heating to between 2am and 7am. I was doing quite a bit of the water heating off peak as we're up early, so most of the morning water heating was done before the 7am switch to peak. However evening showers, dishwashing, and weekend clothes washing are all now shifted to off peak.

I did a fairly thorough analysis, which suggested for my water use at the times I typically use it my savings would be between $170 and $212 for the years between 2009 and 2014, and $139 in 2015 - I have a lot of historic market data. However because power prices will be higher this year my savings moving to off peak will increase.

Here's after my timer switched on, typical day

Here's before

You can see a lot more power usage during off peak times. In the middle of winter, when power prices are high at peak, this will help more.

Just out of interest how much did it cost for the time and install for your Hot water cylinder, just weighing up my options, plus is it mechanical and do you have to adjust for day light savings?

Thanks

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

#1577968 21-Jun-2016 21:42

My Auckland prices seem to run a real premium on the rest of the country

This is typical usage for my 3 person flat by Eden Park (3 working 25 year olds) with no heating

dantheperson

174 posts

Master Geek

#1577978 21-Jun-2016 22:07

There's a good view of the regional price differences here: http://www.em6live.co.nz/PriceImpact.aspx

There is a premium to pay being upper north, furtherest from the glacial hydro generators, but the premium is nothing like the difference between your graphs.

timmmay

20580 posts

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#1578055 22-Jun-2016 07:05

Shoes2468:

Just out of interest how much did it cost for the time and install for your Hot water cylinder, just weighing up my options, plus is it mechanical and do you have to adjust for day light savings?

Thanks

Cylinder was installed as part of a total bathroom replacement, I don't know what the work cost. If I had to guess I'd say a few hours at $80/hr plus the cost of the cylinder.

Not sure what you're asking about being mechanical - the hot water timer? You can use any timer you want. I used a digital one.

macuser:

My Auckland prices seem to run a real premium on the rest of the country

Line charges seem similar to Wellington, but you pay a bit more for the power. I guess that's because it's mostly generated down south and has to be bought the whole way up the country.

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1578686 22-Jun-2016 21:59

timmmay:

Shoes2468:

Just out of interest how much did it cost for the time and install for your Hot water cylinder, just weighing up my options, plus is it mechanical and do you have to adjust for day light savings?

Thanks

Cylinder was installed as part of a total bathroom replacement, I don't know what the work cost. If I had to guess I'd say a few hours at $80/hr plus the cost of the cylinder.

Not sure what you're asking about being mechanical - the hot water timer? You can use any timer you want. I used a digital one.

Sorry didn't realize you had other work done, just trying to weigh up the options, I have a night only meter but its not connected to the hot water cylinder, after speaking to flick they said I could still get the hot water cylinder running on the night meter but it would just get charged the price at the time and the lines company looks after when it is switch on over night say between 11pm and 7am. Or whether to get a timer installed on the cylinder and manage it myself. What kind of timer did you have installed?

timmmay

20580 posts

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#1578771 23-Jun-2016 07:01

Shoes2468:

Sorry didn't realize you had other work done, just trying to weigh up the options, I have a night only meter but its not connected to the hot water cylinder, after speaking to flick they said I could still get the hot water cylinder running on the night meter but it would just get charged the price at the time and the lines company looks after when it is switch on over night say between 11pm and 7am. Or whether to get a timer installed on the cylinder and manage it myself. What kind of timer did you have installed?

Have a read of the thread about it. Timer I used is here.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1579105 23-Jun-2016 17:05

@Shoes2468 You need to work out What you will pay in lines charges to have the cylinder on Night rate compared to anytime power. As the lines company will charge both per unit as well as fixed fees for the power you use. So having the cylinder on Night rate will probably give you some savings. But alot of those savings could be from paying less in lines charges.

Myself I am on a Peak / offpeak plan offered by Vector. It is also the only price plan available in Auckland with variable lines charges. Since I went on that plan, Flick say Im now saving 30% compared to my old company. Previously they said I saved between 18% to 22%

The 2 spikes in the unit price are due to the lines charges switching between peak and offpeak rates. And the offpeak rates apply all day on Saturday and Sunday. So perfect for weekend projects with my TIG welder. Or running the spa pool.

Shoes2468

785 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1579230 23-Jun-2016 20:04

Aredwood:
@Shoes2468 You need to work out What you will pay in lines charges to have the cylinder on Night rate compared to anytime power. As the lines company will charge both per unit as well as fixed fees for the power you use. So having the cylinder on Night rate will probably give you some savings. But alot of those savings could be from paying less in lines charges.

Myself I am on a Peak / offpeak plan offered by Vector. It is also the only price plan available in Auckland with variable lines charges. Since I went on that plan, Flick say Im now saving 30% compared to my old company. Previously they said I saved between 18% to 22%

The 2 spikes in the unit price are due to the lines charges switching between peak and offpeak rates. And the offpeak rates apply all day on Saturday and Sunday. So perfect for weekend projects with my TIG welder. Or running the spa pool.

Hi thanks for this, yes the lines company Orion essentially has three rates. Off peak 9pm-7am weekdays and all weekend 2.72c day rate 11.36 and winter peak 7am-10am and 5-7pm weekdays 19.335 , so changing the cylinder to the night meter the lines company will only activate the cylinder between 9pm and 7am 7 days a week so always off peak in terms of line company. So either I put it on the night rate meter, which is cheaper and less maintenance but less control or I put in my own timer which means I'm in control but more expensive up front but could probably achieve ever so slightly cheaper rates.

timmmay

20580 posts

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#1579248 23-Jun-2016 20:31

Cost me $250 + gst to get a digital timer supplied and installed.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1579293 23-Jun-2016 22:54

@Shoes2468 Often you will get charged a cheaper rate having the cylinder on the night meter. It partly depends if you have a dedicated meter for hot water and other controlled loads. In otherwords - do you get a discount in exchange for giving the lines company the right to control when your cylinder will be heated? As if there are overloading issues or electricity shortages, they might leave your cylinder off for longer than normal. So it is an extra benefit that a timer can't do.

Or is it simply a variant of the plan Im on - Which is I have no restrictions on What / When I use things. But I pay different amounts in lines charges depending on when I used power. (As well as how much power of course).

You can also put your own timer on the cylinder as well as having the cylinder controlled by the lines company. Say if you want it to start heating later than what they would otherwise start it heating. EG - If cylinder takes 4 hours to heat completely from cold. Set your timer to start it heating at 3am. So it will be fully heated by 7am. You get both cheaper lines fees and spot prices will most likely be lower from 3 to 7am compared to 9pm - 1am.

If you don't know your cylinders full heat up time. Formula is: cylinder size in Litres / (Element kW X 16) = Answer in hours.

TonyS071

57 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#1579296 23-Jun-2016 23:23

timmmay: Cost me $250 + gst to get a digital timer supplied and installed.

costs about the same for me. (Perhaps a little less as I sourced the timer myself). Laughing all the way to the bank on savings. No impact to our hot water quality or quantity at all. None. Zip. Nada.

luckiestmanalive

54 posts

Master Geek

#1579298 23-Jun-2016 23:37

macuser:

My Auckland prices seem to run a real premium on the rest of the country

This is typical usage for my 3 person flat by Eden Park (3 working 25 year olds) with no heating

Are you on the low user tariff? The low user tariff converts the fixed daily charges into c/kWh and that would explain why you are paying an average price twice as high as mine in Wellington...

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