Compare the margin in each time window
A time-of-use tariff prices energy differently by defined periods. Reducing expensive operating hours may lower energy spending, but it also reduces mining work and potential revenue. Evaluate the margin for each period rather than optimizing the bill alone.
Your utility’s calendar, holidays, seasons, and metering rules determine the actual price schedule. Firmware startup time, idle consumption, and equipment behavior also affect a stop-and-start plan. Scheduling does not remove demand or fixed charges unless the tariff specifically supports that result.
Step-by-step
- Map the tariff. Copy the current periods and prices from your contract. Note timezone, seasonal changes, and any demand-related conditions.
- Model each interval. Estimate active and idle energy and the output lost when offline. Apply fees and auxiliary consumption consistently.
- Test the procedure. Confirm supported shutdown and restart behavior, observe a controlled trial, and review logs before relying on an unattended schedule.
Worked example
Illustrative example. A hypothetical 3 kW miner running eight hours at USD 0.20/kWh incurs USD 4.80 in miner-only energy charges. Skipping those hours saves that energy charge but also gives up eight hours of mining output.
Compare the saved cost with the forgone net revenue under your assumptions. Fixed site expenses remain in the broader budget.
Common mistakes
- Reporting energy savings without lost output.
- Assuming frequent hard power cuts are a supported control method.
- Using a summer schedule during a different tariff season.
Questions and answers
Can the cheapest hours still lose money?
Yes. Lower energy cost does not guarantee positive operating margin or capital recovery. Evaluate yield, valuation, fees, overhead, and downtime in the same scenario.
Apply this to your setup
For each tariff period, show productive hours, active energy, idle energy, lost output, and remaining fixed costs. Document the supported scheduling method and recovery procedure. Compare total operating margin across schedules. A smaller electricity bill is not by itself evidence of a better result if substantially more revenue is forgone.
Sources and next steps
Read tariff interpretation and safe shutdown.
How this guide was prepared: AI-generated drafting with the linked technical references and illustrative calculations. It does not report first-hand equipment tests or a named specialist review.