dubbeltarief

Dubbeltarief is a tariff system for utilities, most commonly electricity, in which the price depends on the time of consumption. The unit price differs between a high-cost period (peak) and a low-cost period (off-peak). The system is usually implemented through a dual-rate or time-of-use meter. The aim is to reflect the varying costs of supplying energy and to encourage consumers to shift usage to off-peak times.

How it works: A two-rate meter records consumption in different time blocks. The customer is billed at a peak rate for energy used during peak periods and at a lower off-peak rate for energy used during the off-peak period. The exact hours of peak and off-peak vary by country and supplier. In some markets, a mid-peak period may exist, but a strict dubbeltarief generally involves only two rates.

Applications: Dubbeltarief is most common in electricity billing and is sometimes offered to households and small businesses as a way to manage demand. It can be used to promote energy saving and grid reliability by incentivizing consumption at times of lower demand.

Implementation considerations: A compatible meter and clear communication of rate schedules are required. Smart meters or time-of-use metering are often used. Benefits include potential bill savings for flexible users who can shift consumption; drawbacks include budgeting difficulties for those with fixed routines and the possibility that overall costs do not decrease if usage patterns do not align with off-peak periods.

Example: If peak rate is higher than off-peak, running high-energy appliances during off-peak can reduce the bill.