There are two hours in the day where using your washing machine and tumble dryer can cost you more money.
While we’ve heard that people should try washing and drying their clothes at night, this isn’t a viable solution for many.
Instead, people can cut back on their expensive energy bills by avoiding this small timeframe.
Read more: The three most expensive devices wasting energy in your home - and it’s not a tumble dryer
Electric Ireland confirmed that time-of-use rates are divided between three different time bands.
They stated that the peak hours when electricity usage is most expensive is between 5PM and 7PM.
They also have a series of other time bands, all of which are:
Night: Midnight-8am
Day: 8am-5pm
Peak: 5pm-7pm
Day: 7pm-11pm
Night: 11pm-Midnight
They explained that unit rates may differ for each time band, with "peak" times the most expensive, while the prices for "day" times similar to the flat tariff and "night" times are the cheapest.
This may differ depending on your energy provider and what meter plan you are signed up to, so make sure to check their website for more information.
Electric Ireland explained that the new time-of-use tariffs are a great way to save money on your household bills.
They can be used instead of the traditional “flat” tariffs which means there is the same rate applied to your energy usage throughout the day.
These new tariffs are meant to reflect the amount of electricity used during different periods for homes with smart meters.
Therefore, if you use your energy-consuming household appliances at night or during the day when the lower tariffs are in place, you will be saving money compared to using them between 5PM-7PM.
For people who are busy during these times, you can schedule certain appliances depending on their model.
You can also implement smart plugs which allow you to control your plug sockets. Instead of a continuous flow of electricity when your appliances are plugged in, these smart plugs function as a remote controlled power switch.
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