Frequently asked questions

The payback time of the device depends on many factors (e.g. tariff for a kWh of electricity, number of electrical appliances, and so on). Count on an average of 2 to 3 years. If you live in Flanders, you can apply for the premium Sturing Elektrische Warmte (SEW) when purchasing and installing Lewiz. This premium worth a maximum of 400 euros significantly reduces the payback time of Lewiz.

The capacity tariff, as the name suggests, is a tariff related to the capacity of the electrical system. Until recently, you paid distribution network charges based on the amount of kWh you consumed. Since 1 January 2023, capacity tariff is in effect and your bill will be partly determined based on your highest consumption peak.

These peaks are measured over 15 minutes and are the average consumption during this period. The higher the consumption peak, the higher the distribution network charges are. The highest 15-minute value is your monthly peak. The average values of the 12 previous monthly peaks will become your final capacity tariff that you have to pay for. For most households, these consumption peaks are between 06:00 and 08:00 in the morning and between 18:00 and 20:00 in the evening.

Specifically, the capacity tariff means that those who generate high peaks will pay more than those who spread their consumption. Consequently, if you have so-called ‘large consumers’ in your home, such as an electric car or a heat pump, you will benefit from spreading your consumption and controlling the appliances intelligently. This way, you avoid overloading the grid and keep your energy bill under control.

The capacity tariff was introduced to avoid peak loads on the electricity grid. Indeed, in recent years, society has been moving more and more towards CO2-neutral solutions. This is accompanied by the arrival of electric cars, heat pumps and other appliances that use large amounts of electricity. To keep the distribution network reliable, it is important to avoid overloading. For this reason, the Flemish Regulator of the Electricity and Gas Market (VREG) is trying to encourage the population to use the grid more efficiently, and the introduction of the capacity tariff should help. This is because the capacity tariff means that the less you load on the grid, the less you have to pay. More information can be found here.

Those who spread, pay less. Lewiz ensures that your electricity consumption is spread evenly over time by actively controlling the energy-consuming appliances in your home. In this way, Lewiz ensures that your peak consumption does not exceed a limited level that you choose. This keeps the capacity tariff under control, which can significantly reduce your electricity bill.

Lewiz will therefore ensure that any electric vehicle present is preferably charged in a delayed manner. If a battery is present, Lewiz will ensure that peak consumption is met by energy from the battery and not from the grid.

Lewiz controls the optimisation of self-consumption by controlling devices such as a battery, heat pump, charging station, etc., thus ensuring that generated energy is not placed on the grid, but is consumed locally or stored for later consumption.

Measuring consumption peaks is basically only possible with a digital electricity meter. After all, a classic meter is not able to register when you consume a lot or little electricity. When installing solar panels, you automatically get a digital meter.

Nevertheless, you can also use Lewiz without a digital meter. The installer will then install his own meter when installing Lewiz, which will record the necessary metering data and send it to Lewiz. This meter is not a digital meter of the network operator and therefore has absolutely no influence on whether or not you keep a reversing counter. However, you will then pay a flat fee. More information on this can be found under ‘What if I don’t have a digital meter?’.

If you are not among the households that already have a digital meter, you will pay a flat rate for the capacity tariff since 1 January 2023. Indeed, the regulator has provided for a minimum contribution corresponding to 2.5 kW of peak capacity. Moreover, 20% of the capacity tariff is charged at a higher rate to customers who do not (yet) have a digital meter.

If you do not have an electric car, battery or solar panel installation in your home, the payback period for Lewiz is currently too high. But, not too long from now, almost every European will have an electric car, solar panels and/or a battery. So you better be prepared for the future, and the future-proof device Lewiz can help you do just that!

This depends on the exact situation and energy consumption profile of the family in question. In some cases Lewiz will be interesting, in others not.

Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that Lewiz allows you to map out your specific energy consumer profile using the monitoring application. This consumer profile provides targeted advice on which devices (solar panels, battery, …) could be interesting for your situation. It is our conviction that energy will only become more expensive, which is why it is already useful to measure (and know) now, so that in the long run the energy bill can be kept under control.

Currently, two inverters and two charging poles can be connected to Lewiz. For now, however, steering is only applicable to 1 of the 2 charge posts. In the future, however, this will become possible on both or more charge posts.

In addition, multiple ModBus devices can be linked to Lewiz by connecting an additional kWh electricity meter to monitor these energy flows.