Dynamic Price for Energy - How-To ?

[oxygen]

Bottom line is:
Dynamic Price uses a sensor that timeout by default at 60 mins.
If the device is not updated every hour but only once or twice a day, the value will be "timed-out", and won't be used for the dynamic price.

Solutions
Option A: Increase the timeout to "a lot of minutes" to cover a full update period (1440 for a full day)
Option B: Refresh/Re-update the sensor value once every hour (even if no value change)

====
Original Post:
I'm trying to leverage the Dynamic Price for the Energy costs (instead of the Low/High or Simple) tarifs.
But I'm not sure how it is supposed to work.

Currently, I'm setting the price in my Custom Counter at the time of price change.
That is 10.10 PM and 6.10 AM (effectively it's at 10PM & 6AM, but that doesn't make much difference)

And then I leave it for the rest of the day.

Somehow, it doesn't work.
The "cost" is not properly calculated.

So how is it supposed to work ?
Why should I set it "every minute" ?
Why doesn't it take the "last "active" value ?

Or am I missing something ?

[waltervl]

You can create a dummy custom sensor where the current active tariff is in (eg 0.25 for 25 cents per kWh). That custom sensor can be used for the (dynamic) electricity cost calculation by Domoticz through menu Setup-settings, tab counters.
Same principle for Gas cost calculation.

You can update the Gas and Electricity tariff custom sensor as soon as the tariff changes and from that time these new tariffs will be used for cost calculation.

[oxygen]

This is the current approach I've chosen (update as soon as the tariff changes). But it doesn't work.
It seems that the custom sensor needs to be continuously updated, even if there is no price change for the Dynamic Price to "work".
If the Custom Sensor is not updated, it seems as if the computation (consumption x price) is done with a "null price" for the Tariff.

Currently, my script is the following:

Code: Select all

        -- Routine to set the Dynamic Price of Tempo based on the current used color
        if not ( item.isHTTPResponse ) then
            if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 22:10') then
                if (electricity_bleu.usage > 0) then
                    --usage1 is LP
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Bleu
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_bleu_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for bleu HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_blanc.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Blanc
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_blanc_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for blanc HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_rouge.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Rouge
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_rouge_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for rouge HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                return
            end
            if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 06:10') then
                if (electricity_bleu.usage > 0) then
                    --usage1 is LP
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Bleu
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_bleu_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for bleu HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_blanc.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Blanc
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_blanc_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for blanc HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_rouge.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Rouge
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_rouge_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for rouge HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                return
            end
        end

The Tariff Sensor is the following:


One of the Energy Sensor provides the following:

Another one:

Energy Dashboard is also completely "off":


One can see that the cost is not properly calculated.
It looks as if the cost is calculated for 1hr (between 6:10 and 7:10) and nothing is calculated during the rest of the day.

I'm fine in updating every 5 mins the Custom Sensor, but it feels an overkill.
Imho, the dynamic price should use the last "updated" value as the applicable price.

[waltervl]

Sorry, cannot help you further here. Your way of working seems correct. No idea why it is not working for you.

[habahabahaba]

Show the full code.

What is the trigger for the script? Time or device?

if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 22:10') then - you are trying to catch the event at the exact time.

What if to give some difference like
if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 22:09-22:11') then ... ?

[HvdW]

I agree with @habahabahaba ; share the code
Or to start with: where do you collect the prices.
If you live in the Netherlands you'd better use the Enever Dutch Electricity/Gas Price Feed plugin.
If not show us the URL you're using.

[gizmocuz]

Shortlog values are stored every 5 minutes by default.
What value did you enter in the settings page (Other) for Sensor Timeout? (Is this still the default value of 60?)

[oxygen]

Shortlog values are stored every 5 minutes by default.
What value did you enter in the settings page (Other) for Sensor Timeout? (Is this still the default value of 60?)

Sensor timeout is still 60 minutes indeed.
I understand I would need to re-update the value then every 60 minutes to keep it active ?

The current script is :

Code: Select all

return {
    on = {
        timer = {
            'at *:02',
            'at *:15',
            'at *:30',
            'at *:45',
            'at 23:54',
            'at 23:59',
            'at 00:04',
            'at 06:10',
            'at 22:10',
            },
        devices = {
			'TeleinfokWh Jours Bleus'
    	},
        httpResponses = {
           scriptVar .. "*"
            }
        },
    data =  {
        energyCosts = { initial = {} }
    },
    logging = {
            level = domoticz.LOG_INFO,
            marker = 'Tarif Tempo',
        },
    execute = function(domoticz, item)

        --  ********************************************************************* Your changes below this line *************
        -- input Devices
        local electricity_bleu = domoticz.devices("TeleinfokWh Jours Bleus") -- P1 device or comment this line
        local electricity_blanc = domoticz.devices("TeleinfokWh Jours Blancs") -- P1 device or comment this line
        local electricity_rouge = domoticz.devices("TeleinfokWh Jours Rouges") -- P1 device or comment this line
        --local gas = dz.devices("Gas") -- Gas meter or comment this line
        
        local tempo_price_device = domoticz.devices("TempoPrice")
        
        -- outPut Devices
        local electricityCost = domoticz.devices("CostTempoBleu") -- define this virtual sensor as Custom sensor or comment this line when not used
        local electricityCostBleu = domoticz.devices("CostTempoBleu") -- define this virtual sensor as Custom sensor or comment this line when not used
        local electricityCostBlanc = domoticz.devices("CostTempoBlanc") -- define this virtual sensor as Custom sensor or comment this line when not used
        local electricityCostRouge = domoticz.devices("CostTempoRouge") -- define this virtual sensor as Custom sensor or comment this line when not used
        --local gasCost = dz.devices("gasCost today")   -- define this virtual sensor as Custom sensor or comment this line when not used
        
        local tempo_bleu_hc_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_bleu_hc_kwh').value)
        local tempo_bleu_hp_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_bleu_hp_kwh').value)
        local tempo_blanc_hc_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_blanc_hc_kwh').value)
        local tempo_blanc_hp_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_blanc_hp_kwh').value)
        local tempo_rouge_hc_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_rouge_hc_kwh').value)
        local tempo_rouge_hp_kwh = tonumber(domoticz.variables('tempo_rouge_hp_kwh').value)

        local function updateCustomSensor(device, value) 
            local currentValue = device.rawData[1]
            if value ~= tonumber(currentValue) then              -- Update only needed when new value is different fom previous one 
                domoticz.log(device.name .. " ==>> previous value: " .. currentValue .. " ; new value " .. value,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                device.updateCustomSensor(value) 
            else
                domoticz.log(device.name .. " ==>> No Change / Error in Value",domoticz.LOG_INFO)
            end
        end
        
        -- Routine to set the Dynamic Price of Tempo based on the current used color
        if not ( item.isHTTPResponse ) then
            if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 22:10') then
                if (electricity_bleu.usage > 0) then
                    --usage1 is LP
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Bleu
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_bleu_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for bleu HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_blanc.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Blanc
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_blanc_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for blanc HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_rouge.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HC/Rouge
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_rouge_hc_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for rouge HC : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                return
            end
            if domoticz.time.matchesRule('at 06:10') then
                if (electricity_bleu.usage > 0) then
                    --usage1 is LP
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Bleu
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_bleu_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for bleu HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_blanc.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Blanc
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_blanc_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for blanc HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                if (electricity_rouge.usage > 0) then
                    -- Set TempoPrice to HP/Rouge
                    tempo_price_device.updateCustomSensor(tempo_rouge_hp_kwh)
                    domoticz.log('Set Tempo Price for rouge HP : ' .. tempo_price_device.sensorValue,domoticz.LOG_INFO)
                end
                return
            end
        end

    end
}

I've removed some unneeded section as this script is also doing other stuff to fetch value from the Teleinfo.

tl;dr:
It decides what color the day is based on which color the teleinfo is giving some usage.
I'm doing this because the Teleinfo somehow is not updated properly "daily" when the color changes. So to ensure I'm selecting the proper one, I'm basing it on the ACTUAL consumption, not theoretical message/value.

Adding to the issue:
Here is the last few days of price sensor, again proving that the sensor updates properly. But isn't used properly (most likely due to the sensor timeout). I don't necessarily want to modify the timeout for ALL sensors, but only for this one ...)

[gizmocuz]

Yes, you need to update at least every 60 seconds if your sensor timeout is 60 seconds.

[waltervl]

Yes, you need to update at least every 60 seconds if your sensor timeout is 60 seconds.

According documentation timeout is in minutes so you should update the sensor every hour? https://wiki.domoticz.com/Application_S ... or_Timeout

[oxygen]

Yes, you need to update at least every 60 seconds if your sensor timeout is 60 seconds.

According documentation timeout is in minutes so you should update the sensor every hour? https://wiki.domoticz.com/Application_S ... or_Timeout

So i've modified the script to update at least one time every one. And extend the timeout to 65 mins to ensure a full overlapp.
And now it "works" as intended.

However, for the dynamic tariff based on a custom device, this behavior feels wrong to me
The timeout for this kind of device is "wrong".

Either it should be discardable by sensor if the custom sensor is to be kept
Or it should be possible to have a specific sensor used for the dynamic tariff that would not timeout at all.

Eitherway, it should be more explicit in the documentation
Not a lot of energy vendor change tarif every hour, so there is a very high risk that the calculation won't work because of that

[waltervl]

Not a lot of energy vendor change tarif every hour, so there is a very high risk that the calculation won't work because of that

I do not know where you live, but in the Netherlands it is very common to have an energy contract with dynamic tariffs changing ever x minutes!
I personally have a fixed tariff (not even day and night), so I just use the tariffs from menu settings

Before this I (and others) was not aware that a custom sensor behaves like this for cost calculation.....

Edit, it is documented now: https://wiki.domoticz.com/Application_S ... alculation

[HvdW]

If it is only cost calculation you can do it like this:

Code: Select all

return {
    on = {
        devices = { 'Actual Price' },
        timer = { 'at 23:59' }
    },

    logging = {
        level = domoticz.LOG_DEBUG,
        marker = 'Cost Calculation'
    },

    data = {
        costT1 = { initial = 0 },  -- daltarief
        costT2 = { initial = 0 },  -- normaal tarief
        dynamicCost = { initial = 0 },
        lastUsage1 = { initial = 0 },
        lastUsage2 = { initial = 0 },
        lastActualPrice = { initial = 0 },
        stroomOverdag = { initial = 0 },
    },

    execute = function(domoticz, triggeredItem)
        local now = os.time()
        local currentDate = os.date('%d-%m-%Y %H:%M', now)
        local logFile = "/home/hein/electricity-costs.csv"

        -- Haal de actuele verbruiksgegevens op
        local powerDevice = domoticz.devices('Power')
        local usage1 = powerDevice.usage1
        local usage2 = powerDevice.usage2
        local actualPrice = domoticz.devices('Actual Price').sensorValue

        -- Bereken het verschil in verbruik sinds de laatste meting
        local deltaUsage1 = usage1 - domoticz.data.lastUsage1
        local deltaUsage2 = usage2 - domoticz.data.lastUsage2

        -- Update de laatste verbruikswaarden
        domoticz.data.lastUsage1 = usage1
        domoticz.data.lastUsage2 = usage2

        -- Vaste tarieven (in euro per kWh)
        local costT1 = 0.2750 -- Normaal tarief 
        local costT2 = 0.2340 -- Daltarief

        -- Bereken de kosten voor vast tarief
        domoticz.data.costT1 = domoticz.data.costT1 + (deltaUsage1 * costT1)
        domoticz.data.costT2 = domoticz.data.costT2 + (deltaUsage2 * costT2)

        -- Bereken de kosten voor dynamisch tarief met de prijs van de voorgaande periode
        domoticz.data.dynamicCost = domoticz.data.dynamicCost + ((deltaUsage1 + deltaUsage2) * domoticz.data.lastActualPrice)

        -- Update de laatste dynamische prijs
        domoticz.data.lastActualPrice = actualPrice
        
        -- voor het vergelijken even de hoeveelheid stroom tussen zon op en zon onder
        local sunrise = domoticz.time.sunriseInMinutes 
        local sunset = domoticz.time.sunsetInMinutes
        local currentTime = domoticz.time.minutesSinceMidnight
        if currentTime > sunrise and currentTime < sunset then
            
            -- hier moet stroom sunrise komen en later stroomsunset en daarna van elkaar aftrekken
            
            domoticz.data.stroomOverdag = domoticz.devices('Power').counterToday 
        
        end
        
        -- Log de kosten
        domoticz.log('Kosten T1 vandaag: €' ..  domoticz.data.costT1, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Kosten T2 vandaag: €' ..  domoticz.data.costT2, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Dynamische kosten vandaag: €' .. domoticz.data.dynamicCost, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Kosten T1 vandaag: €' ..  math.floor((domoticz.data.costT1/1000)*100+0.5)/100, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Kosten T2 vandaag: €' ..  math.floor((domoticz.data.costT2/1000)*100+0.5)/100, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Dynamische kosten vandaag: €' .. math.floor((domoticz.data.dynamicCost/1000)*100+0.5)/100, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('Dynamische prijs nu : €' .. actualPrice, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)
        domoticz.log('stroomOverdag :' .. domoticz.data.stroomOverdag, domoticz.LOG_DEBUG)

        -- Schrijf de gegevens naar het CSV-bestand
        local file = io.open(logFile, "a")
        file:write(currentDate, ";", deltaUsage1/1000, ";", deltaUsage2/1000, ";", math.floor((domoticz.data.dynamicCost/1000)*100+0.5)/100, 
            ";", math.floor(((domoticz.data.costT1+domoticz.data.costT2)/1000)*100+0.5)/100, ";", math.floor((domoticz.data.costT1/1000)*100+0.5)/100, 
            ";", math.floor((domoticz.data.costT2/1000)*100+0.5)/100, ";", actualPrice, ";", domoticz.data.stroomOverdag, "\n")
        file:close()

        -- Reset de kosten aan het einde van de dag
        if os.date('%H:%M') == '23:59' then
            domoticz.data.costT1 = 0
            domoticz.data.costT2 = 0
            domoticz.data.dynamicCost = 0
            -- domoticz.data.stroomOverdag = 0
        end
    end
}

In this code T1 and T1 are low and high tarif respectively.
Dynamic costs is calculated from a sensor driven by Enever Dutch Electricity/Gas Price Feed plugin.
Whenever the dynamic tarif changes the script is triggered and calculates costs using the delta and the tarif of the past hour.
I wrote this script to get insight if it is profitable to change from normal tarif to dynamic tarif.
The sensor from the plugin behaves like this:

dynamic.jpg (77.01 KiB) Viewed 217 times

[oxygen]

I do not know where you live, but in the Netherlands it is very common to have an energy contract with dynamic tariffs changing ever x minutes!

In France.
And we only have day/night (in a very subtle way with EJP or Tempo)
Or weekdays/weekend for some specific 3rd party providers.

I'm not aware of any contract with hourly price changes in Fr.