10 - E.ON - Study shows customers can save up to 25 percent with variable electricity rates

Electricity consumers change their behaviour if prices are dynamic and their electricity costs and consumption are transparent. This is the finding of a study conducted by E.ON Metering GmbH as well as BSH Bosch and Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH. About 85 percent of the 115 participants in the study carefully examined their electricity costs and, on average, postponed one in two uses of their dishwashers and washing machines to a time of the day with a more favourable tariff. As a result, their electricity costs were up to 25 percent lower. On their dishwashers and washing machines, they simply pre-selected a later starting time. In an average German home, household appliances account for 40 percent of the electricity consumed. A set of traffic lights on the display of a mobile telephone told the customers whether the electricity rate was in the low, medium or top range at a particular time. In future, dynamic electricity rates could be determined, for example, by the level of wind energy generation or prevailing market trading prices.