The electric meter today is not just a measuring instrument. This device can significantly help in the matter of saving the family budget.
For example, unlike a conventional meter , a multi-tariff helps reduce power consumption, but only if certain conditions are met. First of all, the installation of such a meter will be useful in the event that you use electricity mostly at night, when the minimum tariffs are in force.
In the article we will consider a three-rate counter and learn about its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros and cons of a three-rate counter
The meaning of installing such a counter is reduced to the following scheme. The day is divided into three periods - time zones. In the so-called peak zone (usually 7-10 hours in the morning and 20-23 hours in the evening) you pay at the maximum tariff, in the semi-peak zone (10-17, 21-23 hours) the fee will be slightly less, and at night (from 23 before 7 am) - at reduced rates, about 4 times less.
The advantages of a three-rate counter include:
- The scheme described above allows users to pay less for electricity if energy-intensive appliances are not used at peak hours;
- such a counter will help you to save, and quite legally, unlike using different magnets and other deceptive circuits.
But at the same time this device has drawbacks:
- it is not convenient for all to use household appliances at night;
- the cost of electricity on a three-tariff meter is rapidly changing upwards. After installing a new meter (which in itself will cost you a lot), there is always a risk that the electricity supplier will revise the tariffs, and there will be no special benefit in it;
- on how clearly you can follow the recommendations, depends on the payback time of the meter itself.
Which counter is more profitable - two-tariff or three-tariff?
There is no single answer to this question. The fact is that both types of counters are good, but only in different situations. So, with three-tariff meters you save mainly on semi-peak areas and at night.
As for dual - rate devices, the calculation of energy efficiency in them is somewhat simpler, and the basic principles of benefit are about the same, except that the day is divided into not three time zones, but two - day and night.
It should also be noted that the sense of installing a multi-tariff meter is only if there are devices in your house (apartment) that consume a lot of electricity (electric heating, air conditioning, a powerful water pump, etc.).