Automation examples

These examples use {name} as a placeholder for the name you set during configuration. If your name is Home, replace {name} with home in entity IDs.

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Run during cheap hours (rank-based)

The simplest approach: use the rank_acceptable binary sensor to gate an automation. Set your acceptable rank threshold in the Kilowahti options.

alias: Heat water during cheap hours
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.kilowahti_{name}_rank_acceptable
    to: "on"
action:
  - service: switch.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: switch.water_heater
trigger_variables: {}

To stop the device when the window ends:

alias: Stop water heater when hours no longer cheap
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.kilowahti_{name}_rank_acceptable
    to: "off"
action:
  - service: switch.turn_off
    target:
      entity_id: switch.water_heater

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Run when price is below threshold

Use price_acceptable when you care about the absolute price rather than relative rank. Set your threshold in Kilowahti options.

alias: EV charging when price is acceptable
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.kilowahti_{name}_price_acceptable
    to: "on"
action:
  - service: switch.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: switch.ev_charger

You can also combine both conditions using price_or_rank_acceptable:

trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.kilowahti_{name}_price_or_rank_acceptable
    to: "on"

---

Schedule appliance at cheapest upcoming window

Use the kilowahti.cheapest_hours service to find the cheapest consecutive block ahead of time and schedule your appliance to start then. Requires an input_datetime helper (e.g. input_datetime.cheapest_window_start).

Automation 1 — Find the window (runs daily at 17:00):

alias: Find cheapest 3-hour overnight window
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: "17:00:00"
action:
  - service: kilowahti.cheapest_hours
    data:
      start: "{{ now().isoformat() }}"
      end: "{{ (now() + timedelta(hours=15)).isoformat() }}"
      hours: 3
    response_variable: result
  - service: input_datetime.set_datetime
    data:
      timestamp: "{{ result['start'] }}"
    target:
      entity_id: input_datetime.cheapest_window_start

Automation 2 — Start the appliance at the scheduled time:

alias: Start dishwasher at cheapest window
trigger:
  - platform: time
    at: input_datetime.cheapest_window_start
action:
  - service: switch.turn_on
    target:
      entity_id: switch.dishwasher

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Proportional control (thermostat / climate)

Use control_factor_price to modulate a setpoint rather than switching on/off. 1.0 = cheapest slot, 0.0 = most expensive.

This example adjusts a thermostat setpoint between 19 °C (expensive) and 22 °C (cheap):

alias: Adjust thermostat by price
trigger:
  - platform: state
    entity_id: sensor.kilowahti_{name}_control_factor_price
action:
  - service: climate.set_temperature
    data:
      temperature: >
        {{ 19 + (states('sensor.kilowahti_{name}_control_factor_price') | float) * 3 }}
    target:
      entity_id: climate.living_room

For a ±1 bipolar input (e.g. to feed a PID controller), use sensor.kilowahti_{name}_control_factor_price_bipolar instead.

Note

The control factor shape (linear or sinusoidal) and scaling exponent are configurable in Kilowahti options. Sinusoidal gives a gentler response near the extremes.