Total Heating Total Control

bertiebile007

I am on Scottish Hydro Electric's Total Heating Total Control (THTC) tarriff, and they are hitting me for £163.00 per month for electric. Does anyone know if you can switch companies while on this tarriff, I have looked at several switching websites and can't see that tarriff listed?
Any advice on this appreciated.

dunloadin

I'm a meter worker who installs electricity meters in Scotland, whilst I'm no expert on billing and sales I can comment on your problem.

The Total heating Total control tarriff is exclusive to Hydro. The only other company who have a similar system is Scottish Power, known as Comfort Plus. No other company supports this metering system, and will treat it as a normal Economy 7 (white meter).

The way this system works is unique, in that the 24hr domestic supply (lights, sockets, cooker etc) do not change over to cheap rate. All heating (incuding your 24 hour and 'boost' facility) are charged at the cheaper rate. Basically it's two seperate metering systems in one.

DO NOT change to a supplier who will treat the bill as a normal Eco7 system; you may save a few bob in the short term but if the supplier decides to change your meter you could end up with a partial loss of the heating system. The storeage heaters will work as advertised, but the 24 hour and boost facility will be charged at the higher rate if used through the day (and may not work at all).

I am of course assuming you have a fully functional heating system.

bertiebile007

Thanks for your comment Dunloadin, looks like I can't switch then?, unless Scottish Power can do same for cheaper; will give them a try.
Thanks.

anij

I've just moved from a house with Economy 7 system for night storage heaters (everything else on domestic rate) into one with total control heating. For similar sized house (3-bed) with more heaters, I'm finding that my electricity bills are around 2/3rds of what I was paying before, and my house is much warmer! The day-time boosting on cheap rate is a god-send, as far as I'm concerned - on the E7 rate, the storage heaters only charge over-night, which meant the house was roasting at about 5am, and there was no heat left by the time i came to sit down in an evening
I'd say your bills are pretty reasonable - in my old house I was averaging about £70/week for my electricity, and am now paying about £40. So i wouldn't recommend changing!