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Version: v0.24.0

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Tibber Prices integration.

General Questions​

Why don't I see tomorrow's prices yet?​

Tomorrow's prices are published by Tibber around 13:00 CET (12:00 UTC in winter, 11:00 UTC in summer).

  • Before publication: Sensors show unavailable or use today's data
  • After publication: Integration automatically fetches new data within 15 minutes
  • No manual refresh needed - polling happens automatically

How often does the integration update data?​

  • API Polling: Every 15 minutes
  • Sensor Updates: On quarter-hour boundaries (00, 15, 30, 45 minutes)
  • Cache: Price data cached until midnight (reduces API load)

Can I use multiple Tibber homes?​

Yes! Use the "Add another home" option:

  1. Settings → Devices & Services → Tibber Prices
  2. Click "Configure" → "Add another home"
  3. Select additional home from dropdown
  4. Each home gets separate sensors with unique entity IDs

Does this work without a Tibber subscription?​

No, you need:

The integration is free, but requires Tibber as your electricity provider.

Configuration Questions​

What are good values for price thresholds?​

Default values work for most users:

  • High Price Threshold: 30% above average
  • Low Price Threshold: 15% below average

Adjust if:

  • You're in a market with high volatility → increase thresholds
  • You want more sensitive ratings → decrease thresholds
  • Seasonal changes → review every few months

How do I optimize Best Price Period detection?​

Key parameters:

  • Flex: 15-20% is optimal (default 15%)
  • Min Distance: 5-10% recommended (default 5%)
  • Rating Levels: Start with "CHEAP + VERY_CHEAP" (default)
  • Relaxation: Keep enabled (helps find periods on expensive days)

See Period Calculation for detailed tuning guide.

Why do I sometimes only get 1 period instead of 2?​

This happens on high-price days when:

  • Few intervals meet your criteria
  • Relaxation is disabled
  • Flex is too low
  • Min Distance is too strict

Solutions:

  1. Enable relaxation (recommended)
  2. Increase flex to 20-25%
  3. Reduce min_distance to 3-5%
  4. Add more rating levels (include "NORMAL")

Troubleshooting​

Sensors show "unavailable"​

Common causes:

  1. API Token invalid → Check token at developer.tibber.com
  2. No internet connection → Check HA network
  3. Tibber API down → Check status.tibber.com
  4. Integration not loaded → Restart Home Assistant

Best Price Period is ON all day​

This means all intervals meet your criteria (very cheap day!):

  • Not an error - enjoy the low prices!
  • Consider tightening filters (lower flex, higher min_distance)
  • Or add automation to only run during first detected period

Prices are in wrong currency or wrong units​

Currency is determined by your Tibber subscription (cannot be changed).

Display mode (base vs. subunit) is configurable:

  • Configure in: Settings > Devices & Services > Tibber Prices > Configure
  • Options:
    • Base currency: €/kWh, kr/kWh (decimal values like 0.25)
    • Subunit: ct/kWh, øre/kWh (larger values like 25.00)
  • Smart defaults: EUR → subunit, NOK/SEK/DKK → base currency

If you see unexpected units, check your configuration in the integration options.

Tomorrow data not appearing at all​

Check:

  1. Your Tibber home has hourly price contract (not fixed price)
  2. API token has correct permissions
  3. Integration logs for API errors (/config/home-assistant.log)
  4. Tibber actually published data (check Tibber app)

Automation Questions​

How do I run dishwasher during cheap period?​

automation:
  - alias: "Dishwasher during Best Price"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.tibber_home_best_price_period
        to: "on"
    condition:
      - condition: time
        after: "20:00:00"  # Only start after 8 PM
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_on
        target:
          entity_id: switch.dishwasher

See Automation Examples for more recipes.

Can I avoid peak prices automatically?​

Yes! Use Peak Price Period binary sensor:

automation:
  - alias: "Disable charging during peak prices"
    trigger:
      - platform: state
        entity_id: binary_sensor.tibber_home_peak_price_period
        to: "on"
    action:
      - service: switch.turn_off
        target:
          entity_id: switch.ev_charger

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