Understanding Economy 7 - Help!

Gillby1

Hi all,

I've recently moving into a flat with electricity only - no gas. The provider is NPower, and apparently the electric is on Economy 7. I know that this has something to do with cheaper elec overnight, but am not sure how it works or how best to use it. Would anyone be able to enlighten me?

Thanks guys! :beer:

Gilly

Cardew

Basically you get 7 hours at night at much cheaper electricity - usually about a third of the price of daytime electricity. The hours of this cheap electricity vary a litlle but it is normally between somewhere between 11:30 and 7:30.

The downside is that you pay(normally) slightly higher daytime rates than someone on a 'normal' tariff.

Obviously you should try to use as much electricity during the 7 hours. Heating, hot water, dishwasher/washing machine on a timer etc.

The actual rates vary according to what part of the country you live in.

irnbru_2

If you've got any storage heaters then this is when they'll charge up. Also, they'll dissipate heat throughout the day, so keep the room doors closed etc.

Check your hot water heating times, you can vary this till you find a period which is short enough to heat the tank during the night.

Gillby1

The boiler doesn't seem to have any controls - just an on/off switch. I can't see how to change the temp or the timer. Any ideas?

I don't know how to put the washing machine on a timer either, as it has a wall on/off switch with no plug etc...

Do i do anything to get the heaters to charge up over night? Will they store heat without me turning them on? They simply have an on/off switch with numbers (for temp) and a timer for turning on/off.

I don't get it!
Thanks!

irnbru_2

Gillby1 wrote:

The boiler doesn't seem to have any controls - just an on/off switch. I can't see how to change the temp or the timer. Any ideas?

In that case, you only have rudimentary control.

Gillby1 wrote:

I don't know how to put the washing machine on a timer either, as it has a wall on/off switch with no plug etc...

Ask on the DIY board about getting it replaced with a mechanical timer. You might save some money in the night but not much.

Gillby1 wrote:

Do i do anything to get the heaters to charge up over night? Will they store heat without me turning them on? They simply have an on/off switch with numbers (for temp) and a timer for turning on/off.

Sound more like panel heaters than storage heaters. Storage heaters don't have timers.