It’s now becoming common to use a home battery to shift your electricity imports from expensive times to much cheaper times. But the amount you save depends on your electricity tariff. So read on for all you need to know about electricity plans for home batteries, plus a live ranking of the top options in Ireland.
⚡️ How home batteries impact your electricity usage
Normally, a home battery charges from 2am until around 5am, and then discharges as needed throughout the day.
This makes for a big spike in electricity imports late at night, but reduced imports at other times.
Batteries are not 100% efficient, so using one will result in slightly higher overall usage. But when it comes to cost, the extra consumption can be more than offset with the reduced unit rates, saving you money overall.
✅ What makes a good electricity tariff for home batteries?
With a big enough battery, you may manage to import almost nothing from the grid outside the times when you charge. So it’s all about the EV rate.
But with a smaller battery, other unit rates also matter.
“EV” or “Night Boost” electricity tariffs tend to be the first choice for battery owners. These are mostly marketed to electric car owners, but also work great for home batteries.
🏅 Live Rankings of Tariffs for home batteries in Ireland
Based on average consumption (4,200 kWh per year) and an 8kWh of battery capacity. Results include Urban tariffs for all meter types. Customise your price comparison.
⚠️ One size does NOT fit all
Every household has a unique electricity use profile. And with smart meters, the exact usage profile makes a huge difference. So run a 60-second Custom Electricity Price Comparison to find the best tariff for you and save €300-€600 extra per year.
Warning: DON’T do this if you like overpaying for electricity!
💸 More ways to save on electricity with home batteries
With a home battery, you’ll most likely make use of an EV electricity plan for the deeply-discounted late night rates. But once you have access to those rates, don’t stop at battery charging. For additional savings:
- Power your immersion with the EV band (on a timer)
- Charge night storage heaters on the EV band
- Set a timer to run your washing machine on the EV band
📰 Articles in This Series
Best electricity tariffs for heat pumps
Best electricity tariffs for home batteries
Best electricity tariffs for storage heaters
Best electricity tariffs for EVs
Best electricity tariffs for solar panels