Anytime, Peak, Time of Use, Controlled Load. We cut through the jargon with a simple explanation of the difference.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that the energy industry was invented by aliens.
Tariffs vary due to the changes in wholesale energy and network charges at different times of day. They're not affected by retailer costs or the price of environmental certificates.
You'll pay different rates at different times of day and different days of week depending on the type of tariff.
There are typically two main types of tariff:
- Anytime, sometimes called Peak Only
- Time of Use tariff
As you might expect from the name, on an Anytime tariff you'll pay the same price per kWh regardless of the time or day or day of week.
On a Time of Use tariff, your rates will be split into:
- Peak (the most expensive)
- Shoulder (mid)
- Off Peak (least expensive)
Your total energy spend will depend on when you use energy and it's clearly beneficial to use as much as possible during Off Peak times, but this is also the time that you'll typically not have as much demand for energy due to the sometimes inconvenient need to sleep.
Controlled Load
We're not done with jargon just yet! You may have appliances that are metered separately. These include electric hot water and slab heating and they're often on a Controlled Load tariff that's cheaper than normal energy rates.
Controlled Load 2 is available for a few hours longer each day than Controlled Load 1 and therefore has a slightly higher price per kWh. Your local network company decides on these times.
Controlled Load with other tariffs
You can't have a Controlled Load tariff without also having Anytime or Time of Use unless, of course, you are off grid with the exception of needing power to provide a hot shower or bath.
Therefore you'll see Controlled Load as an add-on to one of the above tariffs, i.e.:
- Anytime with Controlled Load 1
- Anytime with Controlled Load 2
- Time of Use with Controlled Load 1
- Time of Use with Controlled Load 2
All tariffs include a daily supply charge. The daily supply charge includes pass through charges set by your local distributor as well our low, fixed service fee which covers our costs.
Controlled Load often has an additional daily charge that's set by the local network company. We include this in our single, simple daily charge.