Save Money! Start Appliances at the LOWEST ENERGY PRICE using Home Assistant!

[@Shellyfi]

Nice template. Tip. Set timefrate from 2pm to 1pm CET. Day ahead prices are published around 1pm CET and sometimes lowest prices are in the end of day1 and in beginning of day2. To that scenario is better to check prices with that interval

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I think that you might get that behavior of you work with UTC time. In my template I convert that to local time. In my case that's CET.

[@jaap7374]

Great series! Energy management is very profitable these days. I like the combination of practical use cases with (advanced) home assistant features to learn all about home assistant.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Boom! I am very proud of this one. Took me some time to create it, but it works perfectly! Thanks Jaap!

[@AndrePrins]

Thanks a lot for the template/helpers/automation and explaining all steps. I sent 5 euro to you and I'll start sponsoring you via Patron soon. For me it's working very well. One thing I'm missing for the notification, I'd like to be informed at around 8am or so to tell me what the best time is to start an appliance. Is this easy to to instead of being notfified at the time it is the cheapest? For automatic starting an appliance like my washer that works perfectly. Thanks!

[@strijdlust1]

High. Greatfull for your fantastic instruction on lowest energy prices. I bought your template script and it worked fine. I am a zonneplan user and that works fine as well. What do i have to change in the zonneplan script to be triggert when the energy price is at his highest point (instead of the lowest energy price). And what do i have to change if i want to be triggert 2 hours before reaching that highest energy price? Would be verry pleased if you can help me out with this.

[@gerwinkoops4466]

This video is awesome and excellent explanation! Just what I was already trying with Home Assistant. But you gave the final piece to get it work.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Great to hear!

[@MarkJ-ti8iy]

There is a minor issue with parsing the prices (Or maybe by design). Tonight we've a 2 hour timespan from 03:00 until 05:00 with the following prices 0.194 and 0.188. This results in the cheapest hour being 04:00, I expected to be 03:00, because the 2 hour 19 cents. You can fix this using round instead of float. retrieved_price = (hours.value | round(2)....

[@kaimo123]

Thanks for the very useful video. I have a question about how to change the code so that i get the cheapest hour out of four hours

[@torgrimandersen2079]

- platform: template sensors: nordpool_cheapest_first_hour: unique_id: fcbcf933-7cdc-4d61-a9d9-34da36668c26 value_template: >- {% set l=state_attr('sensor.nordpool_kwh_oslo_nok_3_10_025', 'raw_today')|sort(attribute='value') %} {{ (now() >= l[0].start and now()

[@fredericfaure5958]

Hi Ed, I downloaded your code and made some modification so that we have a most expensive time. Interesting when using batteries. While testing I notices this line: {% set ns.cheapest_time = retrieved_time %} in stead of {% set ns.cheapest_time = retrieved_time + states('input_number.nordpool_offset_timer') | int %} The offset is calculated for tomorrow prices but not on today prices. Maybe there is a reason for which I missed regards Christian

[@vodkatart72]

Can this be used for similar dynamic tariffs in the UK has any one in the UK adapted this for octopus agile rates

[@rapha5586]

Thank you again for the great content! Was wondering if anyone know how to add an extra condition in the last step of the video. What I want to achieve is to start an appliance when the energy price is low but only if a physical button has been pressed. To be more precise, if I press a physical button, start the appliance within the time frame of the helper and than stop the automation after it has been initiated and start this flow again upon I press the button again. This way I can load my dishwasher in the evening, press the button and it will run the machine within the next 7 hours once the price is cheap. My first thought was that this can be done via the conditions but not sure anymore. Thanks a bunch for any input!

[@rapha5586]

Ok so I think I got a solution but there is probably a cleaner way to do it. @SmartHomeJunkie please let me know if you have another awesome video that explains some flows that can do this better

[@kterstal]

Nice! This is part of the code I need to control my Victron Multigrid. Goal is to charge the battery at lowest and discharge on the highest. I already know the highest and lowest price, but the highest could be before the lowest on that day. Do you have any suggestions how I can check the highest value after a charge? Would be ideal to charge and discharge the battery every day as a proof-of-concept. Thanks! Awesome channel!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thank you. I do not have a straight answer, but finding the highest value would look much the same as the template I this video, but with logic that checks for a higher value instead of a lower value.

[@Hampzer]

@ktersal how do you get an automation to see the highest price?

[@reinhardtsmit4488]

Nice, thanks very useful and I was working on something like this. Your tutorial helps a lot! Something I'm interested in setting up next is the "cheapest average 4 hour price". Reason... My dishwasher takes 4 hours. So if the cheapest hour is very cheap, the the 3 hours after that are very expensive, I can lose the "gain". Is this something you've thought of doing and have some ideas on?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thanks. You can change the script so that it returns the time three hours before the cheapest hour.

[@reinhardtsmit4488]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Yes that's pretty easy, so I can certainly do that. But some machines (like a dishwasher) run for 4-5 hours in eco mode, and they use a lot at the start, and at the end of the run. So knowing the average price for those 4-5 hours might be more beneficial than simply starting around the cheapest hour.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@reinhardtsmit4488 I totally understand what you're saying. It's something that I've been struggling with too, but I didn't find the perfect solution for it yet. I will think more about it and try to find a way to create a template that works well for this use case.

[@reinhardtsmit4488]

@@SmartHomeJunkie I'll let you know if I think of something too. First step is really understanding the power profile of the machine :D

[@lele88italy]

@@reinhardtsmit4488 I was thinking the same. Some machines requires more than an hour to run and the hours following the cheapest may be expensive so that it makes not beneficial at all to start on the cheapest hour. About the power profile, there are some smart plugs that measure the isntant consumption. You can use one of those to record the consuption profile for each different setting, and use this information to build your logic for starting the machine.

[@triplea9838]

Great Work !!!! Thanks for this video -- Code language in Home Assistant is difficult to understand or write

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Glad it helped

[@Hampzer]

Hello! great video you make it easier for me as a beginner to learn about the HA, ive bought your codes (this and the dynamic energy prices) everything is working but the cheapest time. When i entered a value in the info tab in the helper the cheapest time got unavailable. I really believe ive covered all your steps in the video/blog and ive even copied in the the new timestamp from this videodescription. Any tips on why this could be?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

What provider are you using? Nordpool? There has been an issue with Nordpool a couple of months back, but that should be fixed in the latest version of the template. I think the new timestamp shouldn't be needed anymore. Also make sure you select a value in the helper. So not the max value, but the value itself. That shouldn't be zero.

[@OlaLjungkrona-cz9so]

Would it be nice to also turn off power when the power price increases? 😊

[@buitinefilosofija]

Hi! This is exactly what I am looking for. I have few light which I would like to turn on when price is low and turn off when price is highest. Maybe somebody can help me with code? I understand that it´s opposite. But how to write code to do this. I am really new in HA and it´s a bit confuse me. Thanks!

[@petterolofsson5059]

Nice video series! I tried "Dynamic energy prices" and it workes perfekt! Now when i try this template i get "State - unavailable" on both of them. What can de wrong? Best regards Petter

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Did you enter a value in the hours ahead helper?

[@petterolofsson5059]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Yes, same as you. Now i get, NordPool Lowest Price State:100, NordPool Cheapest Time: Unavalible, Nordpool Hours Ahead: 0.0

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@petterolofsson5059 Yes, you entered the boundaries of the helper, but you have to enter a value in the helper as well. Check the info tab of the helper to enter a value.

[@petterolofsson5059]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Thank you sir! How do I combine "Nordpool Additional Cost" with this?

[@Hampzer]

Hello, me again! Ive created an automation with your template to charge my solarpanel battery when the price is at the lowest. but how do i do the opposite to discharge when the price is at its highest? can i use the same code but like "inverted"?

[@zed915]

How do you retrieve local energy rates? Good use of automation.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I'm not sure if I understand your question. I explain this in this video. Also check this video for more info: How to Track DYNAMIC ENERGY PRICES in Home Assistant NOW! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHetZmRmqs2mrbs

[@buitinefilosofija]

Hi! Thank you for nice template and video. I downloaded both files: Track dynamic energy prices and cheapest price and time. In the beginning everything was working good. But then after approx. 12 hours I can see only dynamic price but and lowest price. Cant see time when lowest price is. Instead of time I can see work unavailable. Maybe you know how to fix this issue? Restart, turn off and on HA not helped. Thanks!

[@kterstal]

Bedankt

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thank you for your support!

[@user-ud9dy3dy3u]

Hi, I downloaden the code and follow the video. If I test the code I got back for Cheapest_time and lowest_price in both cases the state "unavailable". What do I wrong?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I don't know. Please follow the video to see what you did in a different way.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Don't forget to check out this video on how to track dynamic energy prices: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHetZmRmqs2mrbs Let me know your ideas on how you can save on energy costs! NOTE: Nordpool has changed their attributes, so to calculate the cheapest time, replace the last line in the code by: {{ as_timestamp(ns.cheapest_time) | timestamp_custom('%H:%M', true) }}

[@tommyolsen861]

Hi Ed. I simply love this template and I really want it to work. I have downloaded the template and I receive data on cheapest price but cheapest_time is always unavailable. When hours ahead is set to 0 then the cheapest time is set as the current time - so I think the template is ok. With any other hours ahead value cheapest time is unavailable. Do you know why that could be?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad to hear that you love the template. Regarding the issue with the cheapest_time, it seems like there was a glitch or error in the template. I uploaded a new version to Ko-Fi that should work. You can download it for free from your account!

[@tommyolsen861]

Ed, thank you so much it works perfectly.

[@chawibyxhoax8007]

Today, the prices for tomorrow (29.10.2023) seem to be missing in the Nordpool entity. Is it only me who observes this?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yes indeed. I see the same behavior. Maybe because of the wintertime that will kick in tonight? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@chawibyxhoax8007]

@@SmartHomeJunkie I deleted the Nordpool entity (not integration) and configured it again. Then it worked. Only the Apex chart struggled a little bit with the additional hour - but this I regard as a minor issue which is forgotten tomorrow 🙂

[@ShantiSprengers]

Super, Ed... This comes in handy... When I check the 2 new templates their statuses are unavailable from the Zonneplan code section... What can be wrong?... (All I had to do previously, is done and was ok)...

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Oh, that's not good. Maybe the zonneplan entity is different in your code? It's difficult to determine from a distance what could be wrong. I would need to see the data of the zonneplan entity from the developer tools to see what is wrong. I use Zonneplan myself and it works over here. Can you maybe contact me on Discord so that you can share the data of your zonneplan entity?

[@ShantiSprengers]

Ok... Have to find out Discord..

[@vegardstylen9247]

A bit late... but you have to enter a value in the info tab of the "Nordpool Hours Ahead" helper@@ShantiSprengers

[@user-wp9km8ol2q]

@SmartHomeJunkie, Realy nice templates, energy prices and graph is OK, cheapest_price is OK but cheapest_time is unavailable, when hours_ahead = 0 cheapest_price is 100 and cheapast_time is current time so I think template is OK but with any other hours_ahead value cheapast_time is unavailable. what could this be ?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

The hours ahead value should always be more than 0.

[@user-wp9km8ol2q]

I know, but when i fill in 24 or 36 or whatever value I use, the lowest_price is OK and the the cheapast_time is always unavailable

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@user-wp9km8ol2q Which integration do you use? Nordpool?

[@user-wp9km8ol2q]

Hi Ed, I got it working now, I have changed the last line of code, mine is now : {{ ns.cheapest_time | timestamp_custom('%H:%M', true) }}. Because only cheapest_time was not working and your code is 99% the same for both sensors I focussed on the last line of code, I saw also your note about changed formats. Could it be that Nordpool changed their format again ?

[@kweetni01]

I've just installed everything and i've got the same problem. The last post of user-wp9km8ol2q doesn't resolve the problem with me.

[@jeibar]

hey , thanks heaps for the video , I have been trying to get the energy prices thing set up in HA, but as I am in Australia , nordpool doesn't work , I don't know any other integration that works here in Australia , perhaps you know ? I think nordpool only applies for Europe . :(

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Yes, I am afraid so. I do not have any idea about an integration that works with Australian providers, but if there's one, I'll be happy to alter the code so that it works for that provider as well.

[@vodkatart72]

@@SmartHomeJunkie@SmartHomeJunkie, I just saw this post and replied. Can you view the close for octopus energy dynamic pricing to come with the same routine. currently working, not the script after donating but having issues, especially where in the original, it uses RAW_DATA; the octopus interrogation does not have this.

[@123berniez]

Heb de grafiek al een week draaien op mijn computer en telefoon (iphone). Maar op de ipad geeft hij de grafiek niet weer, waar kan dat aan liggen?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

I have no idea.

[@tgf2004nl]

Hoi Ed, wederom een briljante video en uitleg! Ik heb jouw code gedownload via Ko-Fi en inmiddels werkt alles als een zonnetje. Ik worstel alleen nog met de uitdaging hoe ik er achter kom wat de additionele kosten van mijn energie leverancier zijn (in mijn geval Eneco). Ik heb de code uit deze video op een dashboard gezet, samen met een oudere code van jou die de prijzen middels een scraper van de website van Eneco af haalt. In mij Apex kaart zie ik dan de waarde bij 'Now' staan op € 0,15 en in mijn gecrapete prijzen een tarief van € 0,91 (normale prijs). Zijn dan de additionele kosten het verschil daartussen, of denk ik verkeerd?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Dank je wel. Dat zou het verschil ervan moeten zijn ja.

[@heiloofred]

Ok perfect de routines draaien. Ben pas begonnen met HA heb enige kennis van C-programmeren maar niet met yaml. Wil iemand mij een stukje code laten zien hoe het goedkoopste uur met een variabele te vervroegen ???

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

{{ (as_timestamp(strptime(states('sensor.zonneplan_cheapest_time'), "%H:%M")) - (1*60*60)) | timestamp_custom("%H:%M") }}

[@heiloofred]

Oei dat is snel, bedankt. Maar mijn deskundigheid heeft toch nog te veel grenzen. Moet deze aanvulling geplaatst worden in plaats van of aanvullend op de templates.yaml ??

[@strijdlust1]

@@heiloofred Hallo. Heb jij hier toevallig al antwoord op gekregen? Of een oplossing hiervoor zelf gevonden? Zou je dat met mij willen delen?

[@neshco]

I have followed instructions for the first video and copy/pasted code to the templates. Chart was there, prices retrieved as it should. After i added in the same templates.yaml file code for this, I don't get any more values, just "Loading..." and nothing happens in the chart. Guess there is a problem with both codes sticked in same file?! In this tutorial you copy/pasted code from this tutorial in the empty file. What am I doing wrong here? PS Do you plan to add option to choose amount of hours to trigger device, even when lowest prices are not in a row, but randomly scattered?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Both codes should work just fine together in the same templates file.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

By the way, did you fill in a value in the Helper? Only setting the boundaries to 0 and 36 is not enough. You need to enter a value as well in the info tab or on your dashboard like I did.

[@alwinbakema]

Hi, did you have found an solution for this "Loading" problem? I have the same issue. Tho first it worked fine. Now it is just stuck on "Loading" EDIT: Solved. My Sensor was changed to:sensor.zonneplan_energyprices_2 Did not why the _2 was add. But checked this in my sensor library. After changing this in the code everything worked fine.

[@tseven8726]

Ok i have been trying this forever now and i cant seem to get the cheapest hour working, i get the price but not the specific hour help!

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Nordpool changed their attributes. I updated the code on Ko-Fi to make it work. I will add it to the description of the video as well when I'm back at my PC.

[@tseven8726]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Nice, but i your code doesnt seem to display negative prices, what could cause that

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@tseven8726 I believe it shows negative prices on my end.

[@tseven8726]

@@SmartHomeJunkie yeah fixed it now, it was a problem with the currency

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@tseven8726 Thanks for letting me know!

[@guidomaas2009]

Mooie video weer, toch loop ik ergens een beetje vast , bij de lowest price staat 100 en de goedkooste tijd is unavailible, heb you code gekregen en deze gekopieerd, enig idee waar het mis gaat??

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

Je hebt geen waarde ingegeven in de hours ahead helper. Die staat denk ik nog op 0.

[@guidomaas2009]

max waarde stond op 36 beetje met de waarden gepeeld en ja er komt een goede waarde en tijd , thx

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@guidomaas2009 De max waarde is alleen de maximale waarde die je kan invullen. Je moet daadwerkelijk ook nog een waarde invullen. Maar dat is gelukt zo te lezen! 👍🏻

[@mlvdende]

How can the VAT be added to the price?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

You can add VAT in the template by adding a calculation.

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

The VAT can either be activated in the integration of you can add it by adding the VAT in the calculation in the template. Either way, it doesn't really matter for determining the lowest price at a certain time.

[@stephaanl7909]

Hi Ed, I just bought your code and I can't get either sensor.nordpool_cheapest_price or sensor.nordpool_cheapest_hour to show up at all in Home assistant. What could I be doing wrong?

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

If you follow the steps in the video you should be able to see them.

[@stephaanl7909]

@@SmartHomeJunkie Any hints where to check? I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think I had followed the video instructions properly. :)

[@SmartHomeJunkie]

@@stephaanl7909 This might be many things, but I would start checking if the redirection to the templates.yaml is in the configuration.yaml and if the indentation in the etemplates.yaml file is correct. I guess you already rebpooted after you've changed the configuration.yaml?