Energiepreise: Haushalte könnten mit flexiblem Stromverbrauch Geld sparen

German households could save money on their energy bills by adjusting when they use electricity, according to calculations by energy company Eon and research institute for energy economics. The theoretical potential for savings for homeowners and renters in this year alone is up to 1.65 billion euros. Traditional analog meters do not encourage savings, as they only record the amount of electricity used, not the time of day.

Most houses still have analog meters, which do not signal a need to switch appliances on during cheaper off-peak times when electricity is cheaper. Electricity prices fluctuate throughout the day, with higher prices in the morning and evening, and lower prices during the day and night. Eon's CEO, Serafin von Roon, pointed out that billions of kilowatt-hours could be shifted to cheaper time slots.

Eon and the research institute calculated that 18.3 terawatt-hours of German households' electricity usage could be flexible this year, which amounts to 18.3 billion kilowatt-hours. This potential could increase to 34 terawatt-hours by 2031 with the expansion of renewable energy sources. Comparatively, the annual electricity consumption in Bavaria is about 80 terawatt-hours.

Homeowners with solar panels and battery storage find it easier to adjust their electricity usage, while renters face more difficulty due to fixed tariffs per kilowatt-hour, which do not provide a financial incentive to use appliances during cheaper off-peak times. Digital meters are to be largely installed by 2030, but the transition is gradual.

Energinet CEO Filip Thon noted that Germany is lagging behind other countries like Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, and the UK, which have been equipped with smart meters for years.