Heat Pump: heat our houses saving
July 1, 2014
Become operational from today the new rate for electrical consumption. Since July, in fact, residential customers who heat their homes using only electric heat pumps can apply to participate in the trial of the new tariff D1, based on a price per kilowatt hour constant with respect to consumption of electricity. The new rate - explains the AEEGSI a statement - you can pay a cost closer to the actual for network services (transport, measurement and management of the counter).
Today, costs of these services is about 35% of the bill for a typical residential customer (with 2700 kWh / year of consumption and 3 kW of power used), but for those who consume more, the percentage could became half of the bill. The testing of the new tariff "D1" is the first step of the reform initiated by the Authority to align network charges to costs, eliminating subsidies and distortions in the implementation of the European and national regulations on the achievement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources.
The elimination of the progressivity of the rate with respect to consumption can significantly reduce the operating costs for efficient and innovative technologies such as heat pumps.
But how does the rate D1 works?
The price of electricity for residential is defined by adding three amounts:
- fixed fee (defined in euro cents / year);
- fee in consideration of power, proportional to the value of power used (in euro cents / year per kW);
- a variable amount depending on actual consumption (in euro cents / kWh).
Become operational from today the new rate for electrical consumption. Since July, in fact, residential customers who heat their homes using only electric heat pumps can apply to participate in the trial of the new tariff D1, based on a price per kilowatt hour constant with respect to consumption of electricity. The new rate - explains the AEEGSI a statement - you can pay a cost closer to the actual for network services (transport, measurement and management of the counter).
Today, costs of these services is about 35% of the bill for a typical residential customer (with 2700 kWh / year of consumption and 3 kW of power used), but for those who consume more, the percentage could became half of the bill. The testing of the new tariff "D1" is the first step of the reform initiated by the Authority to align network charges to costs, eliminating subsidies and distortions in the implementation of the European and national regulations on the achievement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources.
The elimination of the progressivity of the rate with respect to consumption can significantly reduce the operating costs for efficient and innovative technologies such as heat pumps.
But how does the rate D1 works?
The price of electricity for residential is defined by adding three amounts:
- fixed fee (defined in euro cents / year);
- fee in consideration of power, proportional to the value of power used (in euro cents / year per kW);
- a variable amount depending on actual consumption (in euro cents / kWh).
The residential rates currently in force (called D2 and D3) provide that with the increasing of consumption, therefore the amount increase: more consumption, more pay per kWh consumed;
In contrast, the rate D1 provides that each kWh is paid always the same, regardless of the volume of annual consumption;
The rate D1 is always convenient?
Not always. The rate D1 appears more advantageous for those with annual consumption levels (as is often the case for those who heats with an electric heat pump) and may instead cause a higher bill for those with low consumption. In general, the convenience is certainly greater for those who have contracts with the values of committed power exceeding 3 kW. For those who have instead a committed power of 3 kW is necessary to make a careful evaluation.
It is important remember that the trial tariff covers only two of the three main components of the bill (net of taxes): network services and general expenses.
In summary:
1. for those who now has a heat pump connected to the only counter of the house, with committed capacity of 3 kW (rate D2), the D1 is more convenient for total consumption in excess of about 4,500 kWh / year;
2. for those who now has a heat pump connected to the only counter of the house, with committed power exceeding 3 kW (rate D3), the D1 is more convenient for total consumption of at least about 2,700 kWh / year;
3. for those who now has a heat pump connected to a separate counter (rate BTA), the D1 is more convenient always, whatever the power values involved and annual consumption
Combining also a photovoltaic system, in addition to the savings resulting from the rate D1, you would add the one generated by the use of solar energy. Warm up and then saving .... helping the environment!
