[markvdb]

The core of the EU system is much more elegant. It sets a day-ahead production price per 15 minutes at auction. In EU countries with reasonable distribution cost, dynamic rates are a quite popular way to shift consumption to when cheap electricity is abundant.

[upsuper]

Australia has that as well, the wholesale market changes price every 5 minutes, but it is a big ask for average consumers to follow that price and shift power usage in real time.

[RossBencina]

> it is a big ask for average consumers to follow that price and shift power usage in real time.

I could imagine appliances that take that into account. e.g. an airconditioner that works harder during the cheaper periods. I wonder whether any retailers pass through the 5 minute pricing variation? Should be easy enough to monitor the price and adjust my AC via the infra red remote protocol.

[upsuper]

We have Amber Electric which pass through the 5 minute pricing, and I personally have a lot of automations on Home Assistant based on it. But TBH it doesn't make much difference and it may not even make sense. The price just doesn't move in the way you may find it useful.

For example, in an average sunny summer day, the midday price is usually close to free, and you can have you AC on for several hours. But the price starts rising from 3~4pm, but if you turn off the AC at this point, the room temperature would also start rising quickly at the hotest time in a day.

Also, in winter days (now), the price could be at a relatively high level for all day around almost every day in a week, but you still have to use it regardless.

It is the spring and autumn that most of day time has free electricity but it is also the time you need the least of power.

[Swannie]

Down to 15 minutes, yes, retailers exist, if you have a smart meter (which are 4G connected for near-real time data back to the grid and retailer).