Night Storage Heater Austria 2026: Save up to €400/Year with Dynamic Tariff
Summary (TL;DR)
TL;DR: Night storage heaters used to run on cheap special night-rate tariffs — these are being phased out in 2026. Replacement: dynamic electricity tariffs (aWATTar, Tibber) with Smart Meter. Through intelligent charge control during cheap hours (spot price often 2-5 ct/kWh at night/midday) you can save €200-400/year.
What is Happening to Special Night-Rate Tariffs?
Austrian energy suppliers have gradually abolished or increased their special night-rate tariffs (HT/NT tariffs with fixed night-hour pricing). By 2026, many of these tariffs have expired. The alternative: dynamic spot-price tariffs like aWATTar HOURLY or Tibber, which bill hourly based on EPEX Spot AT — often cheaper than the old night-rate tariff.
Night Storage Heater with Dynamic Tariff: How It Works
- 1Activate Smart Meter: Contact your grid operator → activation is free, takes 1-4 weeks
- 2Choose a dynamic tariff: aWATTar HOURLY or Tibber for Austria
- 3Install control system: ioBroker, Home Assistant or EnergyOptimizer (fully automatic)
- 4Optimise charge times: Storage heater charges 22:00-06:00 (often 2-5 ct/kWh) and 11:00-14:00 (solar peak, cheap)
Price Comparison: Night-Rate vs. Dynamic Tariff
| Tariff Type | Typical Price | Flexibility | Optimisable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old night-rate tariff (NT) | 10-14 ct/kWh | Fixed night hours | No |
| Standard tariff (day rate) | 22-28 ct/kWh | None | No |
| aWATTar HOURLY (spot price) | 2-20 ct/kWh ⌀8ct | Hourly | Yes - EnergyOptimizer |
| Tibber (spot price) | 2-20 ct/kWh ⌀8ct | Hourly | Yes - EnergyOptimizer |
The spot price fluctuates daily: nights (02:00-05:00) and midday (11:00-14:00, high solar output) are the cheapest periods. A 4 kW storage heater with 8h charge time uses 32 kWh/night. At 5 ct/kWh (spot) vs. 14 ct/kWh (old NT tariff): saving €2.88/day = €864/heating season (8 months).
Does a dynamic tariff work without a Smart Meter?
No. Dynamic tariffs (aWATTar, Tibber) require a Smart Meter. Activation is free and takes 1-4 weeks after applying to your grid operator.
Can I keep my old night-rate ripple control receiver?
No — ripple control receivers are deactivated when NT tariffs are discontinued. Replacement: smart plug + ioBroker/Home Assistant, or EnergyOptimizer by Werner.Solutions.
How much can I save compared to the old night-rate tariff?
Depending on your installation and supplier: €200-400/year for a typical storage heater (3-5 kW). During very cheap spot-price periods (spring/autumn with high solar output) even more.
Sources
About the Author
Christian Werner is an IT consultant and founder of Werner.Solutions in Graz, Austria. He helps Austrian households and SMEs optimise their energy costs through dynamic electricity tariffs and smart automation — combining IT expertise with practical energy consulting.
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