Understanding your electricity bill: HP/HC, power, taxes
Is it Chinese? Deciphering your bill often allows you to find hidden savings.
Recommended Materials
- Your last bill
- Calculator
Steps to follow
Step 1
The subscription (The fixed part): This is what you pay every month, even if you do not consume a single kWh. The price depends on the subscribed power (in kVA). The more power you have (6, 9, 12 kVA), the more expensive it is. Tip: Look on your Linky meter for the 'Max Power Withdrawn' in winter. If you have a 9 kVA subscription but never exceed 5 kVA, upgrade to 6 kVA. You will save around €30 per year just by changing this setting.
Step 2
Consumption (The variable part): This is the number of kWh (Kilowatt-hour) that you have burned, multiplied by the price of the kWh. This is where we can take action by turning off the lights and lowering the heat.
Step 3
Base option vs. Peak Hours / Off-peak Hours (HP/HC): This is the big trap. In HP/HC, you pay less for electricity at night (often 10 p.m.-6 a.m.) but MORE EXPENSIVE during the day (HP) than the basic rate. In addition, the subscription is more expensive. For the HP/HC option to be profitable, you must consume at least 40% to 50% of your electricity at night (hot water tank, washing machine, dishwasher, electric car). If you don't have an electric hot water tank or an electric car, the 'Base' option is almost always more economical for you.
Step 4
Taxes and contributions: They represent around a third of the bill (CSPE, CTA, VAT, etc.). There's not much we can do about it, they are collected for the State.
Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated or actual invoice ?
With Linky, you are normally billed in real terms each month. If you don't have Linky, you pay estimates and you have a regularization bill once a year (which often hurts). Prefer the monthly payment or the trust statement.
Precautions
- Beware of market offers with variable prices.
- Check if the invoice is on REAL or ESTIMATED index.
