On 2012-09-11, Steve Firth wrote:

Even new ones. There is an advantageous tariff for 3kW supplies and
anything over 9kW is charged at Industrial rates (expensive).

Smart meters are used that register short term demand over 3kW and impose a
penalty charge. Exceed by too long on too many occasions and the meter
will either restrict supply further and trip out if the limit is exceeded
or it will disconnect and have to be manually reset.

In general people go for 3kW. Some adventurous souls go for 6kW. We have a
9kW supply for which I pay top dollar. We have to run washing machine and
dishwasher between midnight and 3AM. Too expensive during the day.

I guess heating & hot water are gas-powered?

And does this have anything to do with the existence of 10 A sockets
and plugs (and special circuits, I assume) in Italy, in addition to
the usual European 13 A ones?

(Oops, I meant 16 A, which is what I think Europlug/Schuko
plugs/sockets are usually rated for.)

No, houses will have a mix of sockets. It's up to the owners to restrict
their use of power.

No such thing as 13A, there are Shuko plugs that IIRC are 15A and an
Italian 16A design. Mostly sockets are installed as a combined 10A/16A
design that accepts either type of Italian plug. Kitchens have the Shuko
design (aka Tedesco).

aka "German" :-)

(Sorry for the late FU, but I just happened to be rummaging through my
travel adaptors/cables recently & the 2nd question popped up.)

it constantly grates on my nerves how many adaptors I have to use in Italy.
Even after removing every BS 1363 plug from appliances I need Shuko to
Ticino, 16A to 10A, Ticino to Shuko. No matter what combination you can
guarantee that the correct adaptor won't be to hand.

I haven't noticed 3 types of sockets in hotels & offices in Italy; I
thought all the sockets would take the 10 A Italian special plug and
some would take the Schuko. (I've only got 1 adaptor specifically for
Italy.) I guess they do a brisk trade in adaptors & extension leads
there.