Which electricity tariff to choose for your home?

Moving or buying a new house or apartment is a stressful process, especially if you are going through it for the first time. As the moving date approaches, the to-do list will grow rapidly. One item that is easy to overlook is the decision regarding utility providers and energy tariffs. It is worth spending a little more time on this and analyzing various offers. This can lead to significant savings. We advise on which electricity tariff to choose for your apartment and explain what electricity tariffs mean.

What are energy tariffs?

An electricity tariff defines how much you need to pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at a specific time of day or on a specific day. It is the pricing scheme according to which all electricity consumers pay their bills. In Poland, there are several energy tariffs – we can divide them into those intended for households and plans aimed at businesses. The tariff marked with the letter G applies to individual consumers, while tariffs C, B, and A are intended for enterprises powered from networks with low, medium, and high voltage, respectively. The R tariff is aimed at temporary consumers (e.g., organizers of cultural or sports events). In this article, we focus on which tariff offers the cheapest electricity for households and which energy tariff to choose for individual consumers.

Read also: How much does heating with a heat pump cost?

What do electricity tariffs mean?

Tariffs marked with the letter G are divided into four groups. This division depends on the number of zones and thus different rates for electricity as well as the payment method – either a classic charge for consumption or prepaid payments. When using a single-zone tariff, where the price of electricity is constant throughout the day, the situation seems uncomplicated. However, multi-zone tariffs require appropriate analysis of electricity consumption at different times of the day and allow for increased savings on bills. How to read tariff designations? The letter G indicates households, meaning individual consumers, the first digit specifies the contractual power limit (up to 40 kW), while the second digit indicates the number of zones. Which electricity tariff should you choose for your home? Let's take a look at all the options.

Tariff G11

This is one of the most popular energy tariffs in our country. It is also known as a single-zone or all-day tariff. It is characterized by the fact that regardless of the time of day or day of the week, the price of electricity does not change. You don’t have to worry about which tariff offers the cheapest electricity and whether you are currently using more expensive or cheaper energy.

Tariff G12

This is also a very popular option, characterized by dual zones – the rate for electricity changes depending on the specific time of day. A lower price for electricity applies primarily at night during the so-called night valley. A few hours of cheaper energy are also designated during the day, for example, from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM and from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This tariff allows you to plan your electricity consumption by using cheaper energy. For instance, you can charge certain devices at night or do laundry before leaving for work in the morning.

Tariff G12W

The letter W found in the name of this tariff stands for weekend. This option operates under similar conditions to tariff G12. It is also dual-zone but additionally provides a lower electricity rate on weekends and holidays. G12W is an excellent solution for people who usually spend Saturdays and Sundays at home, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and using various electrical devices. The weekend option can bring significant savings to a household over the course of a year. So, if you are wondering which electricity tariff to choose for an apartment where you often spend your free days, the G12W option is worth considering.

Energy tariffs G11P or G11E

With this solution, you can pay for electricity using a prepaid system. However, it requires the installation of a different meter than the previously mentioned options. Electricity is purchased in advance – you can use as much as you have paid for. In this option, you also choose between a single or dual-zone tariff.

Which electricity tariff to choose for your home?

The final answer depends on your individual preferences, habits, and lifestyle. If you do not want to worry about the amount of charges at different times of the day, choose tariff G11 and enjoy a constant rate throughout the day. If you want to look for savings in your household budget, dual-zone energy tariffs will be a great solution. They work perfectly if you spend most of the day away from home. However, which energy tariff should you choose if you mainly do household chores on weekends? In such a situation, the best option would be plan G12W, which provides cheaper electricity on days off work. In each of these cases, you can also consider the option of paying for electricity using a prepaid system. This allows you to conveniently control your electricity consumption, but it should be noted that not all suppliers offer it in their portfolio.

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