Affordable Night-Time Electricity: Does the Cost Savings Justify Its Use for Heating?

Night storage heaters, once a common solution for heating homes in Germany, have become a subject of discussion due to their increasing costs and inefficiency. These heaters, designed to "charge" at night and release stored heat during the day, were subsidized in the 70s with the intention of shifting part of electricity consumption to nighttime. However, due to the high cost of nighttime electricity, heating with night storage heaters has become both expensive and inefficient.

In the 90s, a kilowatt-hour of nighttime electricity cost around three to four cents. Today, that same amount costs eleven to seventeen cents. This rise in prices has raised questions about the profitability of night storage heaters and the tariffs associated with them.

Night-time electricity tariffs are only offered by local suppliers, not by all electricity providers. Energy providers in Germany currently offering night-time electricity tariffs include many regional utilities and larger suppliers such as E.ON, Vattenfall, and eprimo. Detailed tariff options with night rates vary and can be found via comparison platforms like Verivox and CHECK24.

However, switching providers with a nighttime electricity tariff may not necessarily result in cost savings. Customers with a nighttime electricity tariff should consider switching to a pure peak-time tariff. A separate two-rate meter or second meter is required to use a nighttime electricity tariff, and a monthly basic fee or meter charge is due for the two-rate meter, which is usually higher than for a simple meter.

The German government's decision to phase out electric heaters due to their inefficiency and climate impact, announced in 2008, affects only the owners of buildings with more than five households, not private homeowners. After 2019, night storage heaters must be replaced with a more efficient heater, except for private homeowners and owners of buildings with more than five households.

According to the second amendment of the Energy Savings Ordinance, climate-damaging night storage heaters can only be used until the end of 2019. This means that homeowners and businesses using these heaters must find alternative solutions to heat their properties.

It's important to note that not all electricity providers offer differentiated tariffs for daytime and nighttime electricity. The time when electricity becomes cheaper depends on the respective energy supplier. To determine the profitability of the current tariff, customers can use an electricity tariff calculator.

In conclusion, while night storage heaters were once a cost-effective solution, their rising costs and the increasing availability of more efficient alternatives make them less attractive for many homeowners and businesses. It's recommended to research and compare different tariffs to find the most cost-effective solution for heating needs.