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To calculate the consumption of electrical appliances in kWh, you have to take into account the capacity and the length of use. As an example, we calculate the annual energy consumption of a radio alarm and a vacuum cleaner.
Your home can be connected to the energy grid in two ways: with 2 wires (single-phase) or 3 or 4 wires (three-phase). Each type of connection has its advantages.
A watt indicates the power of an electrical appliance. A kilowatt hour is the amount of energy that an appliance consumes when it operates for one hour.
The kilowatt-peak is a notion used to forecast the output of photovoltaic panels and therefore to compare them with each other.
To make sure that all consumers pay a fair price regardless of the caloric power of the gas received, gas consumption is calculated in kWh and not cubic metres.
You will find your EAN code on your energy bill, or you can call Sibelga customer services.
A home battery may be worth it if you have photovoltaic panels in order to make the most of the electricity you produce. However, batteries remain a big investment, and it is currently difficult to get a return on that investment without a grant.
Charging modes define the way in which the electric car and the charging infrastructure communicate. There are several recharging modes depending on the recharging power.
Solar panels allow you to convert light directly into electricity. This is done by the converter. The expected output is dependant of the electrical capacity and the orientation of the panels.
An automatic circuit breaker is increasingly being used as an alternative to the earlier fuse. Both protect against short circuits and overloads, but whereas a circuit breaker can simply be reset, a fuse always needs to be replaced.
The difference between rich and lean gas is their calorific value, i.e. a different quantity of energy. However, this difference does not affect your bill.
The night-only rate is the rate applied for electricity used between 10.00 pm and 7.00 am, and is measured by a “night-only” meter.
Keeping track of your electricity consumption is the key to controlling your energy costs. Whether or not you have a smart meter, there are ingenious, easy-to-implement solutions for tracking your electricity consumption.
The electrical installation of your home is a labyrinth of fuses, switches and electric circuits. It is a complex and interconnected tangled web. Focus on the heart of your electrical installation.
Do you think there is an incorrect meter reading in your annual statement? If so, contact your energy supplier. They will check and make any necessary corrections.
Your electricity consumption is determined every year on the basis of the difference between the reading displayed by the meter and that of the previous year. This counts the number of kilowatt hours delivered to you.
If you have no gas or electricity at your new address, you have to sign a contract with an energy supplier and make an appointment with Sibelga to have the meters opened.
As an owner or tenant, you have to take care of the area surrounding your meter. You can follow a number of instructions to guarantee the safety of your meter.
Whether you have an analogue or digital meter, there are solutions for closely monitoring the electricity consumption of each of your devices.
The advantage of this system is that the electricity used at night and during the weekend and legal holidays, is billed at a lower rate. The rate charged during the day is slightly higher than the ordinary rate and the installation costs are heavier.
If you move house, the recommended procedure is to leave the meters open and fill in an energy transfer form. However, if the next occupier or the owner refuses to sign this form, it is in your interest to have the meters closed.
The smart meter or intelligent meter is an electronic meter that is capable of recording and transmitting power consumption data. Smart meters will be rolled out in Brussels gradually.
The dual hourly rate is based on the principle of two different prices for electricity: during the daytime it is slightly higher than the single rate, while at night as well as during the weekend and public holidays it is lower.
If you have a complaint, first of all contact your electricity or gas supplier. If you are dissatisfied with the response, you can contact a mediation body and as a last resort you can start legal proceedings.
The type of terminal and its connection are crucial in maximising the charging speed of your electric vehicle. But there are other decisive factors in achieving full charging power at home.
Your meters register your gas and electricity consumption. It is important that this is done correctly. This is why Sibelga systematically replaces all old meters.
Your distribution system operator replaces all gas and electricity meters systematically. This is done free of charge, as is the replacement of a faulty meter. In all other cases, you have to pay for the technician to come to you, or for the adjustment.
To install charging points in an apartment building, a collective solution needs to be envisaged. But how can the consumption costs be shared out when all users have the same meter?
Yes. Sibelga systematically replaces all gas and electricity meters. This is usually done without prior notification. What happens if no-one is at home?
When you leave your old address, note down the meter readings on a removal form and have this signed by the new occupier or the owner. If they refuse to sign the removal form, it is in your interest to have the meters closed.
In the Brussels-Capital Region, Sibelga, your distribution system operator, is responsible for reading gas and electricity meters.
In Brussels the roll-out of the smart meter is being organised by Sibelga, the power and gas distribution network operator.
Your gas and electricity meters belong to your distribution system operator, Sibelga
You can recognise the Sibelga meter readers easily by their identification badge, their uniform and their vehicle.
Even if your meter has two counters, this does not necessarily mean that the dual hourly rate is automatically applied. To benefit from this, you have to conclude a specific contract with your supplier.
A dual hourly rate meter is used to distinguish between two rates for electricity: a slightly higher rate than the single rate during the daytime and a more advantageous rate than the single rate at night and during the weekend.
No, if you move house you do not have to have the meter read officially by Sibelga.
This measure is not applied in Brussels. The smaller number of solar panels here means that the situation in the capital is quite different. Of course, this may change, and Brussels may yet follow in the footsteps of Flanders.
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The answer to all your energy questions in Brussels
