Save Some Power Dosh - What the Power Companies and PowerSwitch May Not Have Told you!

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Save Some Power Dosh - What the Power Companies and PowerSwitch May Not Have Told you!

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SomeoneSomewhere

1804 posts

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#3246742 9-Jun-2024 23:06

Read that document. Ripple signals are an 'added bonus', not a core service like actually providing power:

Disclaimer: Orion uses reasonable endeavours to maintain its ripple injection and electricity delivery systems, but
these services are not guaranteed. From time to time, intended ripple signals may not be provided or may occur at
times that differ from published switching times. Orion expressly disclaims any liability for direct or indirect losses
associated with the use or otherwise of its ripple signals.

Again, on top of that, by connecting load to a CN16 or CN19 channel, you are agreeing for it to be powered 16/19 or more hours per day. Being energised 24/7 is not a failure; it is a normal operating condition for the full length of September-April; more than half the year.

You might have an argument (if not for the disclaimer) with a night-only type rate on a night store heater. However, these are rapidly going out of fashion, and lines companies also want to be out of the business of providing time switch services. They are also thermostat-controlled limiting the effect of additional operating hours, albeit less effectively than hot water cylinders.

Hinko

273 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3246746 9-Jun-2024 23:22

SomeoneSomewhere:

You might have an argument (if not for the disclaimer) with a night-only type rate on a night store heater.

Whether my hot water is on a CN8 metered register, if or on a CN10 or NB10 the same comments about OFF signals apply, they all are advised by the retailer to customers to turn off at 7 am (time might vary between lines companies). Suggesting my hot water is currently on CN19 is not true and ummm shall we say an unhelpful distraction from the OP?

Seems "I might have an argument"

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3246748 9-Jun-2024 23:29

That's the first time in this thread that you've mentioned your HWC is not on the standard ripple command for HWC loads, which is typically about CN16-CN19. All previous discussion here has been about the typical CN16-19. No retailer advertises ripple control for HWC on non-HWC channels - in fact, retailers don't generally advertise or give a stuff about ripple control. I expect their boilerplate contracts simply repeat Orion's line about all care, no fault.

However, as my maths above showed, you should be seeing at most a 10% reduction in parasitic draw from reducing the average temperature of the HWC, and no impact to usage-related draw. That's fairly negligible.

This goes back to my comments in your previous thread that your ripple setup is not really per the guidelines and you are upset because it is operating in a way that is not ideal for you.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#3246750 10-Jun-2024 00:13

@SomeoneSomewhere:
Engaged in Fraud? Let me be clear. I have not intended to say Lines Companies are engaged in fraud. nor do I consider I have said that. Careful reading of what is stated helps the forum.

Correct me if my recollection is wrong, but you don't have separately metered hot water so your comments are limited to your very well informed speculation rather than actual half hourly metered data under various circumstances.

These posts where you talk about a 'cash cow' and 'excessively profiting' are pretty close to alleging fraud, given that they are a regulated monopoly where those are effectively forbidden.

Being worried about costs in no way constitute suspicion of fraud. Do not distort the words in the post.

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3246751 10-Jun-2024 00:37

I am aware OP is worried about cost; I'm not disputing that.

However, this is IMHO accusing the lines company of at the very least misleading a government regulator:

To my nose that's the 354% odour of a cash cow. Quite a stink that somehow slipped under the Commerce Commissions nose.

And a standard user with a controlled night meter I understand WE is charging the retailer on behalf of the user the uncontrolled rate of 3.76 cents when the power used is very controlled over 8 night hours, yet the 10 hour night boost rate is .... really, yes its 0.90 cents.

At 411% premium the cost is a real pong that comcom staff must have been hospitalised with covid to have missed that!

I also felt that this post was implying that WELL had ulterior motives behind not turning ripple controlled loads off (unlike, say, it being a stated desire not to use ripple control more than necessary):

Did you find any days where they "forgot" to turn it off at all?

prevaljo

175 posts

Master Geek

#3246916 10-Jun-2024 12:58

If only we had real "Smart Electricity Meters" like in real countries that could actually monitor and report in real time to the consumer with a digital display.. Then the deals relating to time of use could be dynamic and visible..

SomeoneSomewhere

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#3247023 10-Jun-2024 16:43

That could help. It's especially necessary when charging for maximum demand, which we don't do.

One of the issues is we have twenty-something lines companies and they don't even own the meters. For reference, the UK has six and this is considered maybe too many. This results in an extremely fragmented market with no economies of scale.

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gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#3247025 10-Jun-2024 16:46

prevaljo:

If only we had real "Smart Electricity Meters" like in real countries that could actually monitor and report in real time to the consumer with a digital display.. Then the deals relating to time of use could be dynamic and visible..

I realise it's a pretty high bar of entry but just in case you happen to be of the overly geeky persuasion and don't yet know about Home Assistant Glow, check this out: https://glow-energy.io/

gcorgnet

1078 posts

Uber Geek

#3247026 10-Jun-2024 16:49

On the topic of power pricing, I just though I'd share a link to a business recently created by a guy from work. (Hopefully that's OK)

https://www.ahiko.nz/

This company are doing some smart things with the data which is gathered by the smart home meters and will provide some very interesting insights around your usage and best plans for you.

[No I don't receive any commissions, hah but really thing the product is really cool]

raytaylor

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#3247089 10-Jun-2024 21:18

Hinko:

resulting in power being billed to the customer during a period the customer had not agreed to pay.

Ripple control has nothing to do with what you agreed to pay. Install your own timer or dont consume electricity during on-peak periods.

Ray Taylor

There is no place like localhost

Spreadsheet for Comparing Electricity Plans Here

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