Why we are switching from a dynamic to a variable FlexiO tariff

What changes, and what stays the same?

For a FlexiO tariff (formerly ePOWR tariff), we are switching from a dynamic to a variable tariff. Behind the scenes, everything stays the same. Up front, you get more certainty. And the subscription fee disappears.

Sounds like a big step. It isn’t. Here is why.

Behind the scenes: smart trading on the wholesale markets

Your battery and car are still participating in the wholesale market. That is the market where electricity is bought and sold every 15 minutes. Two things matter:

• Smart purchasing: Every day, tomorrow's electricity price is determined. That price depends on how much electricity everyone collectively expects to consume and generate. You may know these as day-ahead prices. Together with your energy supplier, FlexiO buys your electricity for tomorrow on that market, tailored to your home and profile.
• The real energy price, in real time: But a forecast is still just a forecast. If the sun shines brighter than expected, or half of Flanders turns on their oven at the same time, the power grid becomes unbalanced. There is either too much electricity or too little. At that moment, a different price applies: the real-time price of that exact moment.
• Smart adjustments: That is where FlexiO steps in. Is there an excess of electricity on the grid? Your battery will charge a little extra, or we dial back your solar panels. Is there a shortage? Your home draws power from the battery for a while instead of the grid. Any deviation from the electricity purchased the day before is settled at that real-time price. And that can make you money.

We steer. You live. That doesn't change.

Up front: your variable tariff acts as a safety net

Up front, you pay a variable tariff. Think of it as insurance: you never pay more than that tariff, no matter what happens in the market.

If prices skyrocket on a cold winter evening, that’s our concern, not yours.

At the end of the month: Flex euros on your invoice

At the end of the month, we look at what your battery and car actually achieved on the market: what was bought and sold the day before, and how we helped keep the grid balanced.

Whatever that generated, you receive as Flex euros on your invoice. Real euros, not loyalty points. In black and white every month.

Why make the switch then?

Behind the scenes, a variable and a dynamic FlexiO tariff work in exactly the same way. Only the upfront tariff is different. So why switch? For two reasons:

1. Certainty, with the perks of a dynamic tariff. You know in advance the maximum you will pay. And through your Flex euros, you still capture the earnings of a (super) dynamic tariff.
2. A dynamic tariff and the market work against each other. With a dynamic tariff, you naturally want to optimize your consumption yourself: running the dishwasher at noon, charging the car at night. It makes sense. But when you do that, you are adjusting to the dynamic price, while we are adjusting to the real-time energy price of that exact moment. These two strategies work against each other. That costs you money, and it costs us money, too. Because we absorb all the risks so you stay protected against market volatility.

What you gain: no more subscription fee

With a variable tariff, that counterproductive incentive disappears. You no longer have to monitor prices yourself. We take on less risk. And we pass that benefit on to you: subscription fees are eliminated.

Less hassle, zero subscription fees, and your battery still helps keep the grid stable. Good for the climate, and good for your wallet.

Join in and earn from your flexibility. More info: https://www.flexio.energy/tariffs

‍