Home Assistant Blueprint: Amber Electric Negative Price Load Shedding - Automatically activates high-energy devices (heating, towel rails, AC) during negative price windows to consume excess solar rather than exporting at a loss.

negative-price-load-shedding.yaml

blueprint:
  name: Amber Electric Negative Price Load Shedding
  description: >-
    Automatically turns on high-energy devices (heating, towel rails, AC) during
    negative Amber Electric price windows to consume excess solar rather than
    exporting at a loss. Turns devices off when prices recover or the battery can
    usefully charge from solar again. Sends mobile notifications on each transition.

    Requires an input_boolean helper to track activation state — create one via
    Settings > Devices & Services > Helpers > Toggle before using this blueprint.
  domain: automation
  source_url: https://gist.github.com/dougrathbone/e7bb3667e80e30338d82956750680696
  input:
    # --- State tracking ---
    load_active_boolean:
      name: Load Active Toggle
      description: >-
        An input_boolean helper that tracks whether this automation has activated
        devices. Create one via Settings > Helpers > Toggle if you don't have one.
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: input_boolean
          multiple: false

    # --- Price sensors ---
    general_price_sensor:
      name: General Price Sensor
      description: Amber Electric general/import price sensor (c/kWh).
      default: sensor.amber_electric_general_price
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          multiple: false
    feed_in_price_sensor:
      name: Feed-in Price Sensor
      description: Amber Electric feed-in/export price sensor (c/kWh).
      default: sensor.amber_electric_feed_in_price
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          multiple: false

    # --- Battery & solar sensors ---
    battery_charge_sensor:
      name: Battery Charge Sensor
      description: Battery state of charge sensor (0-100%).
      default: sensor.home_energy_gateway_charge
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          device_class: battery
          multiple: false
    site_power_sensor:
      name: Site Power Sensor
      description: >-
        Net grid power sensor (kW). Negative values = exporting to grid.
      default: sensor.home_energy_gateway_site_power
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          device_class: power
          multiple: false
    battery_power_sensor:
      name: Battery Power Sensor
      description: >-
        Battery charge/discharge power sensor (kW). Positive = charging.
      default: sensor.home_energy_gateway_battery_power
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          device_class: power
          multiple: false
    outdoor_temp_sensor:
      name: Outdoor Temperature Sensor
      description: Used to decide AC heat vs cool mode.
      default: sensor.outdoor_temperature
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: sensor
          device_class: temperature
          multiple: false

    # --- Devices to activate ---
    heating_switches:
      name: Heating & Towel Rail Switches
      description: Switches to turn on/off during load shedding (floor heating, towel rails, etc).
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: switch
          multiple: true
    climate_zones:
      name: Air Conditioning Zones
      description: Climate entities to activate during load shedding.
      default: []
      selector:
        entity:
          domain: climate
          multiple: true

    # --- Notification devices ---
    notify_device_1:
      name: First Phone to Notify
      description: First mobile device to receive notifications.
      selector:
        device:
          integration: mobile_app
    notify_device_2:
      name: Second Phone to Notify
      description: Second mobile device to receive notifications. Leave empty if not needed.
      default: {}
      selector:
        device:
          integration: mobile_app

    # --- Thresholds ---
    battery_full_pct:
      name: Battery Full Threshold (%)
      description: Battery is considered full at or above this percentage.
      default: 99
      selector:
        number:
          min: 90
          max: 100
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: '%'
          mode: slider
    battery_resume_charge_pct:
      name: Battery Resume Charge Threshold (%)
      description: >-
        Deactivate load shedding when battery drops below this percentage
        (allows battery to charge from solar). Should be lower than the full
        threshold to prevent oscillation.
      default: 95
      selector:
        number:
          min: 80
          max: 99
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: '%'
          mode: slider
    battery_charge_rate_kw:
      name: Battery Max Charge Rate (kW)
      description: >-
        Activate when battery is charging above this rate (even if not 100% full).
        Set slightly below your battery's actual max charge rate.
      default: 8
      selector:
        number:
          min: 1
          max: 20
          step: 0.5
          unit_of_measurement: kW
          mode: slider
    export_threshold_kw:
      name: Export Threshold (kW)
      description: >-
        Minimum export power to trigger activation (as a positive number).
        The automation checks for site_power below the negative of this value.
      default: 0.5
      selector:
        number:
          min: 0.1
          max: 5
          step: 0.1
          unit_of_measurement: kW
          mode: slider
    activation_delay_min:
      name: Activation Delay (minutes)
      description: How long conditions must hold before activating devices.
      default: 2
      selector:
        number:
          min: 1
          max: 10
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: min
          mode: slider
    deactivation_delay_min:
      name: Deactivation Delay (minutes)
      description: >-
        How long conditions must hold before deactivating. Set higher than
        activation delay to prevent rapid on/off cycling.
      default: 3
      selector:
        number:
          min: 1
          max: 15
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: min
          mode: slider
    heat_temp:
      name: Heating Temperature
      description: Target temperature when AC is set to heat mode.
      default: 22
      selector:
        number:
          min: 18
          max: 28
          step: 0.5
          unit_of_measurement: °C
          mode: slider
    cool_temp:
      name: Cooling Temperature
      description: Target temperature when AC is set to cool mode.
      default: 24
      selector:
        number:
          min: 18
          max: 28
          step: 0.5
          unit_of_measurement: °C
          mode: slider
    heat_below_outdoor:
      name: Heat When Outdoor Temp Below
      description: Use heat mode when outdoor temperature is below this value.
      default: 22
      selector:
        number:
          min: 15
          max: 30
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: °C
          mode: slider
    cool_above_outdoor:
      name: Cool When Outdoor Temp Above
      description: Use cool mode when outdoor temperature is above this value.
      default: 25
      selector:
        number:
          min: 20
          max: 35
          step: 1
          unit_of_measurement: °C
          mode: slider

# trigger_variables are available inside trigger templates (evaluated before triggers)
trigger_variables:
  general_price_sensor: !input general_price_sensor
  feed_in_price_sensor: !input feed_in_price_sensor
  battery_charge_sensor: !input battery_charge_sensor
  site_power_sensor: !input site_power_sensor
  battery_power_sensor: !input battery_power_sensor
  battery_full_pct: !input battery_full_pct
  battery_resume_charge_pct: !input battery_resume_charge_pct
  battery_charge_rate_kw: !input battery_charge_rate_kw
  export_threshold_kw: !input export_threshold_kw

# variables are available in conditions and actions
variables:
  general_price_sensor: !input general_price_sensor
  feed_in_price_sensor: !input feed_in_price_sensor
  battery_charge_sensor: !input battery_charge_sensor
  site_power_sensor: !input site_power_sensor
  battery_power_sensor: !input battery_power_sensor
  outdoor_temp_sensor: !input outdoor_temp_sensor
  heating_switches: !input heating_switches
  climate_zones: !input climate_zones
  load_active_boolean: !input load_active_boolean
  battery_full_pct: !input battery_full_pct
  battery_resume_charge_pct: !input battery_resume_charge_pct
  battery_charge_rate_kw: !input battery_charge_rate_kw
  export_threshold_kw: !input export_threshold_kw
  heat_temp: !input heat_temp
  cool_temp: !input cool_temp
  heat_below_outdoor: !input heat_below_outdoor
  cool_above_outdoor: !input cool_above_outdoor
  notify_device_1: !input notify_device_1
  notify_device_2: !input notify_device_2

triggers:
  - trigger: template
    id: activate
    value_template: >-
      {% set price = states(general_price_sensor) | float(99) %}
      {% set feed_in = states(feed_in_price_sensor) | float(99) %}
      {% set soc = states(battery_charge_sensor) | float(0) %}
      {% set site = states(site_power_sensor) | float(0) %}
      {% set batt = states(battery_power_sensor) | float(0) %}
      {{
        (price < 0 or feed_in < 0) and
        (
          (soc >= battery_full_pct and site < (export_threshold_kw * -1))
          or
          (batt > battery_charge_rate_kw)
        )
      }}
    for:
      minutes: !input activation_delay_min
  - trigger: template
    id: deactivate
    value_template: >-
      {% set price = states(general_price_sensor) | float(-99) %}
      {% set feed_in = states(feed_in_price_sensor) | float(-99) %}
      {% set soc = states(battery_charge_sensor) | float(100) %}
      {{
        (price > 0 and feed_in > 0)
        or
        (soc < battery_resume_charge_pct and price > 0)
      }}
    for:
      minutes: !input deactivation_delay_min

actions:
  - choose:
      # --- ACTIVATE ---
      - conditions:
          - condition: trigger
            id: activate
          - condition: state
            entity_id: !input load_active_boolean
            state: 'off'
        sequence:
          - action: input_boolean.turn_on
            target:
              entity_id: !input load_active_boolean
          - action: switch.turn_on
            target:
              entity_id: !input heating_switches
          - choose:
              - conditions:
                  - condition: numeric_state
                    entity_id: !input outdoor_temp_sensor
                    below: !input heat_below_outdoor
                sequence:
                  - action: climate.set_temperature
                    target:
                      entity_id: !input climate_zones
                    data:
                      hvac_mode: heat
                      temperature: !input heat_temp
              - conditions:
                  - condition: numeric_state
                    entity_id: !input outdoor_temp_sensor
                    above: !input cool_above_outdoor
                sequence:
                  - action: climate.set_temperature
                    target:
                      entity_id: !input climate_zones
                    data:
                      hvac_mode: cool
                      temperature: !input cool_temp
            default:
              - action: climate.set_temperature
                target:
                  entity_id: !input climate_zones
                data:
                  hvac_mode: heat
                  temperature: !input heat_temp
          - variables:
              price_now: "{{ states(general_price_sensor) }}"
              battery_pct: "{{ states(battery_charge_sensor) }}"
              outdoor_temp: "{{ states(outdoor_temp_sensor) | float(0) | round(1) }}"
              ac_mode: >-
                {% if states(outdoor_temp_sensor) | float(0) > cool_above_outdoor %}cool at {{ cool_temp }}°C
                {% else %}heat at {{ heat_temp }}°C{% endif %}
              notification_title: >-
                {% if states(battery_charge_sensor) | float(0) >= battery_full_pct %}Battery full: Turning on devices to load shed
                {% else %}Negative pricing: Turning on devices to use excess energy{% endif %}
              notification_message: >-
                Amber price is {{ states(general_price_sensor) }}c/kWh and battery
                is at {{ states(battery_charge_sensor) }}%.
                Activating floor heating, towel rails, and AC ({{ ac_mode }}) to
                consume excess solar rather than exporting at a loss.
          - domain: mobile_app
            type: notify
            device_id: !input notify_device_1
            title: "{{ notification_title }}"
            message: "{{ notification_message }}"
            data:
              tag: negative-price-load
              group: energy
          - if:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ notify_device_2 not in ({}, '', none, 'None') }}"
            then:
              - domain: mobile_app
                type: notify
                device_id: !input notify_device_2
                title: "{{ notification_title }}"
                message: "{{ notification_message }}"
                data:
                  tag: negative-price-load
                  group: energy

      # --- DEACTIVATE ---
      - conditions:
          - condition: trigger
            id: deactivate
          - condition: state
            entity_id: !input load_active_boolean
            state: 'on'
        sequence:
          - action: input_boolean.turn_off
            target:
              entity_id: !input load_active_boolean
          - action: switch.turn_off
            target:
              entity_id: !input heating_switches
          - action: climate.set_hvac_mode
            target:
              entity_id: !input climate_zones
            data:
              hvac_mode: 'off'
          - variables:
              notification_title: >-
                {% if states(battery_charge_sensor) | float(100) < battery_resume_charge_pct %}Prices positive: Letting battery charge from solar
                {% else %}Prices positive: Turning off load shedding devices{% endif %}
              notification_message: >-
                Amber price is now {{ states(general_price_sensor) }}c/kWh and battery
                is at {{ states(battery_charge_sensor) }}%.
                Turning off floor heating, towel rails, and AC.
          - domain: mobile_app
            type: notify
            device_id: !input notify_device_1
            title: "{{ notification_title }}"
            message: "{{ notification_message }}"
            data:
              tag: negative-price-load
              group: energy
          - if:
              - condition: template
                value_template: "{{ notify_device_2 not in ({}, '', none, 'None') }}"
            then:
              - domain: mobile_app
                type: notify
                device_id: !input notify_device_2
                title: "{{ notification_title }}"
                message: "{{ notification_message }}"
                data:
                  tag: negative-price-load
                  group: energy

mode: single