What is the night-only rate?

The night-only rate is the rate applied for electricity used between 10.00 pm and 7.00 am, and 24h/24 during weekends and public holidays. It is measured by a “night-only” meter.

Unlike a dual hourly rate meter, this meter only operates at night and not alternately with a day-time meter. It is used to measure the electricity used by appliances that are used solely at night. Such as a storage heater.

The night-only rate for separate electricity consumption

The night-only rate is less well known than the dual hourly rate and is only of interest for electrical appliances that operate solely at night such as storage heaters and water heaters. In fact, the night-only meter is fitted on a separate electrical circuit that receives power during a defined period of time, i.e.:

• between 10.00 pm to 7.00 am on weekdays
• and 24h/24 during weekends and public holidays.

Your energy supplier sets the price for this power. In any case, the night-only rate is more advantageous than the “night & weekend” rate applied in the dual hourly rate system.

The night-only meter is usually linked to a storage heater installation. This type of meter can also be used with a storage water heater. In this case, domestic water will be heated at night and used during the day. Placing a boiler on a night-only circuit does have a disadvantage, however: you will be able to use water during the day, but not heat it. If you run out of hot water during the day for some unforeseen reason, you will have to wait until 11.00 pm for your water heater to come back on. The regulations are very clear on this subject: an appliance connected to a night-only circuit cannot have plug that can be pulled out. This means that you will not be able to plug your storage heater into another socket connected to your single-rate or dual hourly rate meter!

A night-only meter can be combined either with a single-rate meter or with a dual hourly rate meter. If you choose the second option, you can use the dual hourly rate during the night for your washing machine, for instance.

You should also note that the night-only meter is installed by Sibelga and that an additional fee is charged (link in French). However, this extra charge is usually offset by the fact that the night-only rate is lower than the night rate of the dual hourly rate meter.