Controlled/uncontrolled metering (electricity)?

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danepak

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#242838 16-Nov-2018 13:41

How does this work?

I asked my electricity provider. They said they can only offer one rate, as I've only got one meter...

What do I have to do, to get a meter, which allows me to have Controlled/uncontrolled metering?

I'm keen on cheaper rates at night time, so I can charge my electric car.

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#2127935 16-Nov-2018 14:11

You need a smart meter which sends your usage every 30 mins

sbiddle

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#2127939 16-Nov-2018 14:19

dryburn:

You need a smart meter which sends your usage every 30 mins

Controlled metering is nothing to do with a smart meter. Controlled rates are those where the lines company can control loading with the use of a ripple switch to shed load - primarily by turning hot water off at peak times. It also allows night rates which were typically used for night store heaters which once again could be controlled by the ripple switch to turn these on and off overnight.

dryburn

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#2127942 16-Nov-2018 14:23

danepak:

I'm keen on cheaper rates at night time, so I can charge my electric car.

hence my suggestion on getting a smart meter

danepak

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#2127955 16-Nov-2018 14:24

Should I be able to do controlled and uncontrolled metering?

nickb800

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#2127981 16-Nov-2018 14:53

Depends who your lines company is as to what is available. Controlled is generally intended for things that are hardwired in, like hot water cylinders, night store heaters and underfloor heating. They might not accept a plug in car charger as a controlled load. You do appear to have a ripple receiver - perhaps for a hot water cylinder? That could be reconfigured for night rate, then you would need another meter to monitor how much your are using on the controlled load.

If you can get a smart meter in your area, and your lines company offers a day/night tariff, then the easiest way to get cheap car charging is to go on an uncontrolled day/night plan. This means that everything in your house is cheap to run at night, and you'll need a timer to start car charging when the night period starts

KrazyKid

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#2128018 16-Nov-2018 15:47

Need to also have a good idea of your nightly usage - it may not be cheaper unless depending on your load during peak.

From what I have seen, compared to a flat rate the peak rate can be higher while the off peak is lower.

I am a fairly high power user with an electric car driving about 10,000 per year.

I estimate my charging costs at $300 a year. (that's about 1.7MW/H per year)
Pushing my flat rate from 18c to an off-peak 15c will save me $50 a year (or $4 per month)

In my case the Heat pump usage during peak over the year far out-weighs the cost savings.

I need to get very low off peak pricing to tempt me and that would probably only be from flick. That's has it's own issues when we get water shortages and/or long term price spikes like now.

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SomeoneSomewhere

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#2128187 16-Nov-2018 21:28

What you're looking for is *not* controlled/uncontrolled metering. It is a day/night plan.

danielparker

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#2128231 16-Nov-2018 23:21

KrazyKid:

Pushing my flat rate from 18c to an off-peak 15c will save me $50 a year (or $4 per month)

Who are you with for 18c flat rate?

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Aredwood

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#2128236 16-Nov-2018 23:45

@danepak You are on the pilot wire system that operates in the North Shore and West Auckland. That control box is linked to your hot water cylinder. But due to reliability issues with that system, Vector will almost certainly decommission that system in a few years time. As whenever there is a big storm, that system breaks. And lots of people then spam the power company helpdesks, complaining that they have no hot water. And they demand that the lines workers be despatched to get their hot water working. Instead of first reconnecting power to people who have no power at all.

Your only option is to switch to an EV pricing plan that some power companies offer. I think that Meridian and Ecotiriciry offer such plans. Or Flick Electric or Electric Kiwi.

Lots of other lines companies install multiple meters, meaning they can charge cheaper rates for the controlled power.

KrazyKid

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#2128237 16-Nov-2018 23:51

I'm with Pulse in Dunedin. Not sure what they charge in other parts of the country.

danepak

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#2128240 16-Nov-2018 23:58

Thanks. I appreciate all the info in this thread.

I'll contact the power companies, who offer an EV pricing plan.

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tripper1000

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#2129120 19-Nov-2018 08:53

danepak:

Thanks. I appreciate all the info in this thread.

I'll contact the power companies, who offer an EV pricing plan.

Just remember to redo the maths before switching. I looked at mercury's EV plan but it was a joke - they give with one hand and take with the other, trying to trick you with distraction like a magician. In Mercury's case (and from memory) on peak power was about 35c/kw. I just stayed with a regular night and day plan.

danepak

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#2129139 19-Nov-2018 09:28

tripper1000:

danepak:

Thanks. I appreciate all the info in this thread.

I'll contact the power companies, who offer an EV pricing plan.

Just remember to redo the maths before switching. I looked at mercury's EV plan but it was a joke - they give with one hand and take with the other, trying to trick you with distraction like a magician. In Mercury's case (and from memory) on peak power was about 35c/kw. I just stayed with a regular night and day plan.

Yep, at the moment I've got a flat rate of 20c per kWh + GST.

Connection rate is 30c per day + GST.

Looks hard to beat.

Aredwood

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#2129381 19-Nov-2018 12:20

@danepak You are on a low user plan. So check what your yearly usage is. If it is over 8000 units per year, switch to a standard user plan. At the beginning of this year, both Meridian and Electric Kiwi were offering around 16c per unit on standard user. The catch being higher fixed daily charges.

Although AFAIK those specials have long since finished, as wholesale power prices are a lot higher now.

Assuming that you have recently bought your EV, you power usage could have easily increased into standard user territory.

Re assess your power prices at the start of next winter. As there may be an electricity shortage then, but there may not be a shortage also. Too early to tell at the moment. For now, you are on a good price by low user standards, and you would probably still be fine even with your EV charging. As your other power use will still be low due to summer.

danepak

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#2129384 19-Nov-2018 12:27

Aredwood: @danepak You are on a low user plan. So check what your yearly usage is. If it is over 8000 units per year, switch to a standard user plan. At the beginning of this year, both Meridian and Electric Kiwi were offering around 16c per unit on standard user. The catch being higher fixed daily charges.

Although AFAIK those specials have long since finished, as wholesale power prices are a lot higher now.

Assuming that you have recently bought your EV, you power usage could have easily increased into standard user territory.

Re assess your power prices at the start of next winter. As there may be an electricity shortage then, but there may not be a shortage also. Too early to tell at the moment. For now, you are on a good price by low user standards, and you would probably still be fine even with your EV charging. As your other power use will still be low due to summer.

Thanks.

I only charge the car a couple of times per week (at home), so I don't expect to move into the standard user bracket.

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