The Flemish capacity tariff, in effect since 2023, has fundamentally changed the way residential and small business consumers pay for electricity. Those who connect a charging station without taking this into account may see their grid fees on the annual bill increase significantly. Smart charging is precisely the technology that prevents this.

What is the capacity tariff?

Since the reform, the portion of your bill that goes to the grid operator is no longer calculated solely on your consumption in kWh, but also on your monthly peak power: the highest average demand over a fifteen-minute interval that your connection drew during that month, measured in kilowatts. The higher that peak, the more you pay — regardless of how many hours you ultimately consume.

In practice: if you run the oven, dishwasher, dryer, and an 11 kW charging station simultaneously in the evening, you could record a peak of 14 kW or more during that single fifteen-minute window. That one peak sets the rate for the entire month.

Why does this affect a charging station particularly hard?

An 11 kW charging station on its own draws more power than many households normally reach at peak times. When that charging station starts automatically as soon as the car is plugged in — without considering other appliances — it leads structurally to monthly peaks. The effect on the annual grid bill is often €100 to €300 higher than strictly necessary, solely due to poor timing.

What does smart charging do specifically?

Smart charging is the automatic management of charging power based on what is being consumed elsewhere in the house at that moment. Three techniques work together:

  • Dynamic load balancing: the charging station measures how much power the household is using via a sensor in the meter cupboard and continuously adjusts the charging power so that the total connection never exceeds a set threshold.
  • Delayed charging start: the station only starts charging after a certain hour, or when other large consumers have been switched off.
  • Energy management system: when combined with solar panels, a battery, or a heat pump, an EMS coordinates all components so that the peak is never exceeded.

What does that yield in euros?

For an average family with an 11 kW charging station and normal appliance usage, the annual savings on the capacity portion amount to €120 to €280, depending on the grid operator area and the tariff. On top of those savings on the grid portion, there is often a second saving: by consciously charging during hours with low commodity prices, the energy component also decreases.

What should you check with a new station?

  • Is dynamic load balancing included as standard or is it an option?
  • Does it require a separate sensor in the meter cupboard, and is that included in the price?
  • Does the station work with your digital meter, and is the peak at your home read correctly?
  • Is the maximum charging power adjustable via an app for exceptional situations?

A station without smart control functionality is rarely the right choice in 2026: the additional cost for a smart station pays for itself within one to two years, through the capacity tariff alone.

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Would you like to know which smart charging station suits your situation? Schedule a consultation with our advisor — we will review your consumption profile and propose a station that effectively limits your peak.