The key to saving with spot-price contracts is shifting consumption to cheap hours. While you can do this manually, smart devices automate the process — letting you save money while you sleep. Here's a guide to the most effective options, from simple €15 plugs to comprehensive home systems.
Entry Level: Smart Plugs & Timers
Smart Plugs with Timers
The simplest starting point. Plug any device into a smart plug and set schedules via an app. Basic models have timers; advanced ones can respond to price signals through home automation systems.
Best for: Water heaters (if your model allows external control), space heaters, pool pumps, hot tubs, dehumidifiers.
✓ Pros
- Very affordable
- No installation needed
- Works with any device
- Can be moved around
✗ Cons
- Limited to device wattage
- Basic models need manual scheduling
- No price awareness without hub
Water Heating: The Low-Hanging Fruit
Smart Water Heater Controllers
Water heaters are ideal for price optimization: they're high-power (2–6 kW), have built-in storage (the tank), and don't need instant response. Heat water when prices are low, use it throughout the day.
Dedicated controllers integrate with price feeds and optimize automatically. Some modern water heaters have this built-in.
Best for: Any home with an electric water heater (boiler). Larger tanks (150L+) offer more flexibility.
✓ Pros
- High impact (water heating is 10-15% of bills)
- Set-and-forget operation
- No lifestyle changes needed
- Pays back in 1-2 years
✗ Cons
- Requires compatible heater
- Installation may need electrician
- Small tanks limit flexibility
Electric Vehicle Charging
Smart EV Chargers
EVs have large batteries (40–100 kWh) and usually sit idle overnight — perfect for price-optimized charging. Smart chargers fetch price data and automatically charge during the cheapest hours while ensuring your car is ready when needed.
Look for chargers with OCPP support (open protocol) for maximum flexibility, or brand-specific solutions from Tesla, Easee, Zaptec, Wallbox, etc.
Best for: Any EV owner who can charge at home. Savings scale with driving distance.
✓ Pros
- Massive savings potential
- Large battery = maximum flexibility
- Often integrates with car's app
- Can also do solar self-consumption
✗ Cons
- High upfront cost
- Requires home parking
- Installation costs extra
Space Heating & Cooling
Smart Thermostats & Heat Pump Controllers
Buildings have thermal mass — they hold heat for hours. Smart thermostats can "pre-heat" during cheap hours and coast through expensive periods. This is especially effective with heat pumps, underfloor heating, and well-insulated homes.
Advanced systems integrate price forecasts and weather data to optimize across the full day.
Best for: Homes with electric heating (heat pumps, electric radiators, underfloor heating) or air conditioning.
✓ Pros
- Heating is often 30-50% of bills
- Comfort maintained automatically
- Works with existing systems
- Also saves via occupancy sensing
✗ Cons
- Effectiveness depends on insulation
- Compatibility can be tricky
- Learning curve for setup
Advanced: Home Battery Systems
Home Battery Storage
The ultimate flexibility: store cheap electricity and use it during expensive hours. Home batteries like Tesla Powerwall, Huawei LUNA, BYD, or Enphase charge when prices are low (or negative!) and discharge when prices spike.
With 15-minute trading intervals, batteries can capture value from short price swings that other devices can't exploit.
Best for: High-consumption homes, solar panel owners (maximize self-consumption), areas with high price volatility.
✓ Pros
- Ultimate flexibility
- Also provides backup power
- Synergizes with solar panels
- Captures short price windows
✗ Cons
- High upfront investment
- Long payback period (5-10 years)
- Battery degradation over time
- Complex installation
Quick Comparison
| Device | Cost | Annual Savings | Payback | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart plug | €15–30 | €50–150 | 2–6 months | Low |
| Water heater controller | €100–300 | €100–300 | 1–2 years | Medium |
| Smart EV charger | €400–1,500 | €200–600 | 1–3 years | Medium |
| Smart thermostat | €150–400 | €150–500 | 1–2 years | Medium |
| Home battery | €5,000–15,000 | €300–800 | 5–10 years | High |
Home Automation Integration
For maximum automation, consider a home automation hub that pulls price data and controls multiple devices:
- Home Assistant — Open-source, highly customizable, excellent Nord Pool integration
- Homey — User-friendly, good app ecosystem
- Hubitat — Local processing, privacy-focused
- SmartThings — Widely compatible, Samsung ecosystem
With a hub, you can create rules like "heat water when price drops below 5 ¢/kWh" or "charge car only during the 4 cheapest hours tonight."