2-tariff meter: principle of operation, advantages of the device, installation and energy saving

To save money on paying bills in households, a modern 2-tariff meter is installed. The amount of electricity consumed depends on the time of day. The peak falls between 17.00-23.00 hours. During the day, consumption drops. The minimum consumption occurs between 23.00-7.00 hours. To transfer part of the activity to non-busy times, the government decided to introduce different tariffs for "day" and "night" hours.

Purpose of the device

For separate metering of consumption, specialists have developed a two-tariff electricity meter. Outwardly, it does not differ from standard counterparts.

Inside, the "novelty" consists of a small processor, which separately calculates the amount of energy consumed in the appropriate time intervals.

Two-tariff accounting - division into "night" and "day" time. Electricity is cheaper at night than during the day. Not all households decide to use a modern appliance. This is associated by consumers with bureaucracy and people's opinions about the non-repayment of the electricity meter.

To install the device, the following documents must be submitted to the supplier:

• passport;
• an agreement with a previous supplier;
• renegotiation of the contract after installing a modern device;
• ownership;
• statement.

Instrument selection

Before buying 2 tariff electricity meters, you need to find out if it is approved for use in Russia. Another important point is its compliance with GOST. According to the technical passport, the equipment is checked, the presence in the passport of the serial number from the plant, the date of issue.

There are other data that require verification:

• guarantee period;
• calibration interval;
• the presence of seals.

Particular attention is paid to the accuracy class. It is better for private households and apartment owners to buy a 2-class accuracy meter. According to the current law, a class 1 device is mounted in a multi-storey building. It is produced by import and domestic companies:

• Moscow plant. He produces a device of the SOE-55 line.
• The Energomer company from Stavropol. It specializes in the production of eponymous day-to-night meters.
• Firm "NPK Incoteks". Produces a well-known brand of metering devices "Mercury".

To make the right choice, it is better to consult with a specialist of the energy supply company. He will tell you which model is better to install in each case.

One and three phases

The device in question is available in 1 and 3 phases. The difference between the models is the voltage value. A single-phase meter is mounted in rooms where the voltage is 220 V:

• apartment;
• dacha;
• garage;
• small area trade point.

If the voltage is 380 V, a three-phase device is mounted. The value of the indicator is typical for large objects. The plus of such a model is full-fledged operation at a voltage of 220 V and 380 V.

A multi-tariff 3-phase appliance is often called a universal option for many premises.

Installation and operation

To switch to a new tariff system, it is recommended to buy a device with the corresponding function. It is best to purchase a meter from an electricity supply company. If the purchase is made on your own, you must give preference to a specialized store.

To obtain authorization to replace a device, you must contact the supplier with a statement. After receiving the order, you can call a specialist to replace the device. The installation of the meter consists in setting up, adjusting, sealing a new device. The specialist makes the corresponding notes in the technical passport. At the final stage of installation, the consumer must receive from the master the operating instructions, information on the timing of checking the device and taking readings.

Taking readings

A novice user should know how to correctly take readings from a two-tariff electricity meter. This will avoid overpayments and penalties. It is better to collect data in one period - the last day of the current month. Observing this regularity, the user will be able to control the light consumption.

It is recommended to write down all readings of consumed electricity in a notebook. The data is taken by adhering to the following tips:

• The readings for the "day" period are designated "T1", and for the "night" - "T2".
• You need to fix the numbers that indicate kW.
• The numbers separated by a dot represent the fraction of kW. They are not recorded.

Data calculation

To independently calculate the amount to be paid for electricity, you will need to subtract the previous data "T1" from the readings "T1" for the current period. The result is multiplied by the cost of 1 kW at the "Day" tariff.

From the readings "T2" for the current period, the previous readings "T2" are subtracted. The result is multiplied by the cost of 1 kW at the "Night" tariff. If the receipt for the light comes for each tariff separately, the readings are entered into the "night" and "day" receipts. When the light is paid for by one receipt, the amount is entered into it at two rates.

Some energy supplying companies send their customers invoices with already filled in details and a ready calculation. In this case, users need to enter the meter readings for the current period into the form.

If the electricity consumer is filling out the receipt, he should know the following:

• all fields indicated in the form must be filled in;
• in the column with bank details, the account of the energy supplying company, the MFO and the code are indicated (the data must be in the contract with the light supplier);
• in the column with the payer's data, the full name and address of residence are indicated;
• in the table "Electricity" it is necessary to write down the month for which the calculation is made, the value of the readings "T1", "T2".

Since the receipt forms for light suppliers are different, if you have any questions, it is recommended to contact the specialists of a particular company for help.

Benefit and payback

Whether or not it is profitable to install a multi-tariff meter depends on the amount of electricity consumed. On average, there is little savings. The initial costs will pay off in 30 months. It is profitable to install the device if:

• the consumer heats the room with electricity;
• the facility has energy-consuming units, including a heat pump, boiler, electric boiler, air conditioners;
• up to 50% of light consumption occurs at night.

In standard apartments with insignificant daily power consumption, a two-tariff meter will pay for itself in a few years. To speed up this process, you can use household appliances at night (dishwasher and washing machine, bread maker, multicooker). Some electrical appliances have a delayed start function. In its absence, the consumer can use the timer.