Households could save up to €180 a year with new electricity app

Families could save more than €180 a year on electricity by buying by the hour.

Danish company Barry offers electricity at the price it buys it on the spot market, where electrical energy is traded for immediate physical delivery.

At 12.00 every day, prices, which fluctuate by the hour, are set and released for the following 24 hours.

This information is passed on to customers via an app, so they can choose to use appliances when the price is lowest for that day.

The company makes its money via monthly standing charges, which are higher than the most widely used provider in France, EDF Tarif Bleu. A power rating of 6kVA with Tarif Bleu costs €10.60 a month and €12.85 with Barry, and for 9kVA the prices are €12.67 and €14.66.

However, Barry claims households will make savings because electricity is cheaper.

In 2020, the average spot price per kWh was €0.1291, compared to €0.1630 for Tarif Bleu. A couple in an apartment with 6kVA using 3,000kwh a year would have saved €54 in 2020 and a family with 9kVA using 7,000kwh €186.

Marketing director Christophe Lephilibert said the system is designed for bigger rather than small electricity users.

He said: “We are looking to the time when there are more electric cars, and families will want to match charging times with cheap rates. You could link the Barry app with your water heater, for example, and programme it to only function during the cheapest rates.

“We are learning how to be responsible consumers for food, so why not for electricity?

“We give you the chance to take control according to your priorities. My personal concern is my carbon footprint, so I will check that information to decide when to best run the dishwasher.”

Related stories

Cheap-rate power deal in France can be more expensive

Non-premium customer service helplines in France