Most off-peak schemes use a time base. The idea is to get demand smoothed by offering incentives for consumers to run stuff in low-demand periods by a price reduction. This is supposed to reduce generation plant needed on standby and increase the base load for fuel efficiency. There is no reason why a poco could not use outside temperature to decide when to switch tarifs, but how does that smoothe the base load or incentivise the customer? Sure increases the bottom-line though, or am I getting cynical?!
The only other tarif switch-method I know of is that in France it is possible, if you consume enough, [ say with electric central heating ], to go onto a 100% off-peak tarif 24/7! The catch is, 15 days in the year you pay an astronomic figure - about a dollar per kwh. This is supposed to allow EDF to shut down hydro-electric and other plant for maintenance. I thought "Wizard idea! I'll just bugger off back to the UK on holiday in the peak period!"
No such luck! You only get 24 hours notice of a peak period and it's in single days, so you can't plan ahead!
Last edited by Alan Belson; 01/09/08 08:43 AM. Reason: spelling error
