Special heating electricity rates for infrared heaters? How to lower your heating costs!

It is widely known that there are special electricity rates for night storage heaters and low electricity rates for heat pumps. But is there a special rate for infrared heating panels? The answer is yes! Although there is no specific rate for infrared heating panels that suits everyone’s needs, there is the option of a so-called direct heating electricity rate for a large number of users of infrared heaters, where savings of up to 20-30% can be achieved. We’ll explain how these special rates work and for whom the tariff change might be worthwhile.

How does the change to electricity rates for infrared heaters work?

In general, mostly only local electricity suppliers offer cheaper direct heating electricity rates. Please consider that each country is different when it comes to this. However, there are more and more national providers offering a special rate for heating with infrared heaters. In order to switch to separate rates for heating and just normal electricity use you basically need separate circuits for heating and household electricity. This means that you either use two individual meters or a single rate meter and a double rate meter. Anyone who has exchanged their night storage heaters with infrared heaters usually already meets this requirement. If there are no separate circuits for heating and household electricity, you have to retrofit. The cost of this can amount to several hundred euros and are therefore worthwhile mainly for property owners or tenants of large premises. The cost of direct heating electricity can amount to approx. 0.2 € / kWh. So if you know that you are heating in the long term or in large rooms with infrared heaters as the main heating system, the change will be worthwhile.

How do I find a provider of direct heating electricity?

In order to get the cheapest heating rate for infrared heaters, you should always contact several providers, ranging from a consultant of your current provider to rate comparisons online. Even if your provider so far has no special tariff on offer, it is possible to negotiate a tariff. Your current supplier might want to convince you to buy a more inefficient and old-fashioned storage heater, just because this is easier for them and will earn them money too.  Don’t let this discourage you. If you cannot agree on a new tariff with your current provider, there are numerous options to even get cheap environment-friendly electricity. Also, consider using two different providers for household and heating electricity if it is cheaper. In this case, you will receive two bills at the end of the month. However, most of the time providers only offer heating power as a package deal together with household electricity.

As the German Environmental Minister Barbara Hendricks said in 2016: “In the future, we will heat with electricity,”. We agree with this. With the increase in households using infrared heaters, it is only a matter of time until more providers offer an attractive rate for infrared heating panels.

If you have any questions, contact us and we will be happy to advise you!