SmartgridOne can use a dynamic electricity price signal as one input for planning batteries and flexible loads in Switzerland. The EMS combines price data with device limits, forecasts and the customer's operational priorities.

Watch dynamic price optimisation in practice

The embedded video explains how dynamic electricity prices are configured for a Swiss SmartgridOne installation and how the EMS uses that information when planning flexible assets.

What changes with a dynamic electricity contract?

With a dynamic contract, the energy component of the electricity price changes over time instead of remaining fixed for a long period. That creates opportunities to shift flexible consumption to less expensive hours and to reserve stored energy for more expensive periods. The final customer price can still include grid charges, taxes, supplier margins and other components that do not follow the wholesale price.

For that reason, the EMS needs the correct contract configuration. A market-price curve alone is not enough if the import surcharge, export compensation or taxes are different from the assumptions used in the optimisation.

How SmartgridOne uses price data

SmartgridOne combines the configured energy contract with measurements and the technical limits of compatible assets. Depending on the project, the control plan can consider a battery, charging stations, heat pumps, solar production and other flexible loads. Forecasts and planned energy needs help the EMS decide when flexibility is actually available.

The goal is not simply to buy at the lowest displayed price and sell at the highest. A realistic strategy also accounts for conversion losses, battery wear, minimum state of charge, charging deadlines, comfort requirements and connection-power limits. A price difference must be large enough to justify the complete energy cycle.

Examples of useful control decisions

• Charge a battery earlier when a low-price period is expected and sufficient capacity is available.
• Preserve stored energy when a higher-price period or local demand peak is approaching.
• Schedule EV charging within the driver's departure deadline instead of charging immediately at full power.
• Coordinate a heat pump within the permitted temperature and comfort boundaries.
• Use solar production first when local self-consumption is more valuable than exporting and repurchasing energy later.

Commissioning checklist

1. Confirm the contract. Record the import formula, export compensation, surcharges, taxes, time zone and interval resolution.
2. Validate the meter. Check current direction, phase mapping, scaling and update frequency.
3. Configure asset constraints. Enter power limits, state-of-charge boundaries, efficiency assumptions and required reserves.
4. Define user requirements. Add charging deadlines, comfort limits and any periods during which loads may not be shifted.
5. Review the first planning cycle. Compare the planned actions with actual prices, measurements and device response.
6. Test missing-data behaviour. Verify the fallback if a price signal, forecast, meter or asset is temporarily unavailable.

Combine prices with site-level limits

Dynamic prices are only one optimisation signal. The same installation may also have a capacity tariff, a maximum import limit or a mandatory DSO command. SmartgridOne can coordinate those requirements in one control strategy, but the priority order must be explicit: safety and grid constraints come first, followed by customer comfort and operational needs, and only then by price optimisation.

Before enabling automatic control, verify that the supplier contract and Swiss grid charges have been represented correctly. The economic outcome depends on the complete tariff, the available flexibility and the actual efficiency of the assets.

Configure prices and planning

Configure an advanced dynamic energy contract →

Review planning and energy prices in the app →   Explore cost-optimised local control →

To compare assumptions with reality, continue with the savings-estimate documentation →