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Many users are unaware that their subscription depends directly on the power subscribed to. However, more than 50% of French households have an oversized meter. This means that they pay too high a fixed portion without needing to. A simple change in power can generate immediate savings, without affecting their electricity consumption.
Why can a poorly adjusted meter cost you dearly?
The electricity subscription includes a fixed part, determined by the subscribed power. The higher the latter, the more the monthly rate increases. However, many homes have too much power compared to their actual needs.
When you move into a home, the subscription chosen by the previous occupant is generally kept. However, the equipment and consumption habits are not always the same. Over time, changes (replacement of appliances, better insulation, renovation work) can also reduce your electricity needs. However, few people think about adjusting their subscription accordingly.
According to Octopus Energy, this error would cost the French 300 million euros each year. On average, 15% to 20% of households could reduce their subscribed power by 3 kVA, which represents up to €100 in savings per year.
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How do you know if your meter is oversized?
There are several methods to check if your subscribed power is suitable:
View history on Enedis: If you have a Linky meter, you can see the maximum power reached over the last 12 months. If this is much lower than your subscription, an adjustment is possible.
Do the calculation yourself: Add up the power in watts of the devices you use simultaneously. For example, an oven consumes around 2,000 W, an electric heater between 1,000 and 2,000 W, a kettle 2,000 W. A small apartment can operate with 3 kVA, while an all-electric home will often require 9 to 12 kVA.
Use an online simulator: Some suppliers such as Octopus Energy or Enercoop offer free tools to assess the power adapted to your consumption.
If your subscription is higher than your actual needs, reducing your subscribed power can reduce your bill effortlessly.
A simplified change thanks to Linky meters
Before the arrival of Linky meters, changing the subscribed power required the intervention of a technician and could only be done in 3 kVA increments. Today, the operation can be carried out remotely, making the adjustment much more precise and quicker.
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