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Appliances and time slots: when to use them to save money

Reduce your energy costs: find out the best times to use electrical appliances and save on your energy bill.

A guide to saving energy: appliances and strategic schedules

Saving energy in the home does not only mean choosing efficient devices, you also know how to use them at the right times. A combination of state-of-the-art appliances and conscious use in energy time slots can help you optimise your energy use and reduce costs in your bill, at the same levels of consumption.
According to ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development), 58% of household electricity consumption depends on household appliances, which play a leading role in everyday domestic life.
This guide contains practical tips for managing your energy in a more conscious way, identifying which appliances save the most energy and which are the best times to use them.

The best times to use household appliances

It is important to choose strategic times of the day to use household appliances, especially the more energy-intensive ones such as the dishwasher, oven, washing machine and dryer. 

Here are some small steps that can help you save energy:

  • Use the most energy-intensive appliances at times when the price of energy is cheaper, such as evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.
  • Choose energy-efficient models of refrigerators and freezers and place them away from heat sources such as ovens or radiators.
  • Only turn on the air conditioner when necessary and during the cooler hours of the day, avoiding excessively low temperature settings.

In each of these cases, the time of day you choose to use the appliance is crucial. So let's find out about hourly energy bands and how the price of energy changes.

 

ℹ️ Band F1 vs Band F2/F3

In Italy, ARERA (Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente - Energy, Networks and Environment Regulatory Authority) has set time bands for electricity consumption, i.e. periods of time during the day when the price of energy varies. There are three hourly energy bands and they are divided into:

  • F1: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (excluding national holidays).
  • F2: Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (excluding national holidays);
  • F3: Monday to Saturday, 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. to 12 p.m., and Sundays and public holidays, all hours of the day.

Domestic customers under the protection regime, on the other hand, have their energy use divided into the bands F1 and F23, which includes all the hours included in the F2 and F3 bands.

The difference between hourly energy bands is related to the demand for energy, its availability and the resulting price on the market:

  • F1: corresponds to the time of day when most work and industrial and commercial activities are concentrated, and when the demand for energy is therefore the highest and most expensive.
  • F2: this is a transition band between peak and night hours. Demand is still present but less intense than in F1. It is less expensive than F1, but more expensive than F3.
  • F3: here the demand for energy is minimal, so production and distribution costs are lowered. This is the ideal time to run the most energy-intensive appliances.

With Enel Ore Free you choose when to save

With Enel Ore Free you can save money precisely when you need energy most. This flexible and customisable digital offer allows you to select three consecutive hours per day,every day in which you do not pay the energy component (equal to €0/kWh excluding VAT and taxes). A freedom that allows you to adapt the 'free' band to your energy use and manage consumption intelligently.

The preset time slot is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., which can be changed daily by 12:45 p.m., directly from the Enel Energia App or from the Customer Area. This way you can decide to use your free hours when it is most useful to you: for cooking, washing, using your air conditioner or recharging your home devices.

To take up this offer, you must be a domestic customer with a low-voltage electricity supply and choose to pay by direct debit from a current account or credit card. Activation is simple: all you need is your tax ID code, POD or customer code, meter reading and IBAN.

 

Also included in the offer is the Bolletta Web billing service, which allows you to receive your bills in digital format, reducing paper waste and helping to protect the environment. What's more, the price of the energy component outside free hours remains locked in for two years, guaranteeing stability and transparency.

With Enel Ore Free, energy management becomes simple, flexible and tailored to you. You choose when to save, control your consumption, and enjoy the freedom of an increasingly efficient and sustainable home.

You have three hours a day with no charge for the energy component

You choose when to use your hours: you can change your three 'free' hours every day to maximise savings.

Fixed price: the cost of the energy component outside the three free hours remains unchanged for the first two years.

Digital service included: the offer includes the Bolletta Web billing service for convenient and paperless bill consultation.

 

You have 3 hours a day completely free (with respect to the energy component)
  • You choose when to use them: you can independently change your 3 “free” hours every day to maximize your savings.
  • Fixed price: the cost of the energy component outside the 3 free hours remains unchanged for the first two years.
  • Digital service included: the offer includes Web Bill, allowing you to view your bills conveniently and without wasting paper.

 

 

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Energy-efficient appliances with Enel

Another strategy to reduce energy consumption is to choose energy-efficient appliances. These devices are designed for optimal performance with minimal energy use, contributing to cost savings and environmental sustainability. Choosing products with a high energy class (such as A, A+, A++ or higher according to the new European labelling) allows you to optimise consumption without sacrificing home comfort.

According to ENEA, replacing an old washing machine with an A-class one can achieve energy savings of up to 35%, while replacing a refrigerator with a higher class one can achieve up to 40%.

Investing in efficient appliances is therefore not only an environmentally conscious choice, but also an economically smart decision, which results in lower utility bills over time and a more modern, sustainable home.

Samsung products at exclusive conditions for Enel Power and Gas customers

If you are an Enel Energia customer or become one, you can enjoy the cutting-edge technology of Samsung with exclusive benefits.

How to organise your routine to optimise consumption

Saving also starts with daily habits; organising your day strategically is a smart choice that can positively affect your everyday life. Here are some practical tips to follow:

  • Schedule and plan the joint use of energy-consuming appliances, such as washing machines or dishwashers, in the reduced tariff bands.
  • Use appliances at full load, reducing cycles and thus consumption.
  • Switch off unused equipment and avoid leaving them in stand-by mode.
  • Carry out regular maintenance: clean appliance filters, check seals and defrost refrigerator and freezer to keep them efficient.

An organised routine can turn into a valuable ally in curbing energy wastage related to the use of household appliances and saving on consumption without having to give up daily comfort.