Double-tariff metering includes different electricity and network access prices during various time intervals (higher tariffs between 6:00 and 22:00 on working days and lower tariffs during the rest of the time). Double-tariff metering is generally more cost-effective for households, since most of the electricity is consumed during the lower tariff time period. It also offers an easier way of optimizing costs by adjusting the times of higher electricity consumption. Requirements for double-tariff metering are a double-tariff meter at the metering point and associated communication equipment.

In contrast, experience shows that single-tariff metering is more cost effective for small businesses, where most of the electricity consumption appears to be during the higher tariff on working days from 6 am to 10 pm.

Before deciding on changing the metering way the costs of electricity supply in both ways must be assessed in detail including the amounts of expected consumption during time periods of the lower and higher tariffs, the proportion of prices between electricity during higher and lower tariffs, and the proportion of network access prices during both tariffs.