Economy 7 should it be taken out?

moneysavingwannabe

Hi,

Thankyou for all your replies.

I'm still not sure what to do. When we were with npower they did add both together and charge us one rate - not sure if we were better off or not!

67p doesn't seem worth swapping thanks Cardew.
Hadn't thought of the winter, suppose having the heating on before we get up will use some electricity. We get up at 6:45 so will have to boil the kettle, make the toast etc before 7 :rotfl: Ooh and shower before 7. LOL

Yes we are East Midlands notbritish gas, so it doesn't seem much different then??

Maybe we should monitor the next month or so and see, what do you think??
Maybe try and use the dishwasher after 11 and can you put the washer on timer so it comes on in the morning?? (That might be slightly annoying tho!!)

Have already been turning off switches when we are not using appliances not sure whether it makes much difference or not though.

Thanks again for your help - do you think I should take readings say every week and monitor usage? Until we decide? It is just so expensive when we don't really use much. If we are in we sit in one room with one lamp on and prob the tv. Although have lots and lots of stupid spotlights in the kitchen/dining/lounge area that aren't energy saving so we try not to use them.

Cardew

moneysavingwannabe wrote: »

Hi,

Thankyou for all your replies.

I'm still not sure what to do. When we were with npower they did add both together and charge us one rate - not sure if we were better off or not!

67p doesn't seem worth swapping thanks Cardew.
Hadn't thought of the winter, suppose having the heating on before we get up will use some electricity. We get up at 6:45 so will have to boil the kettle, make the toast etc before 7 :rotfl: Ooh and shower before 7. LOL

Yes we are East Midlands notbritish gas, so it doesn't seem much different then??

Maybe we should monitor the next month or so and see, what do you think??
Maybe try and use the dishwasher after 11 and can you put the washer on timer so it comes on in the morning?? (That might be slightly annoying tho!!)

Have already been turning off switches when we are not using appliances not sure whether it makes much difference or not though.

Thanks again for your help - do you think I should take readings say every week and monitor usage? Until we decide? It is just so expensive when we don't really use much. If we are in we sit in one room with one lamp on and prob the tv. Although have lots and lots of stupid spotlights in the kitchen/dining/lounge area that aren't energy saving so we try not to use them.

Just check you have the times of E7 correct, they often change with British Summer Time.

Magentasue

Before our children were born, we lived in an all-electric house and had the washing machine and tumble driers on timers to catch the cheap electricity. No dishwasher in those days. And we were low users because we were out so much.

When we moved into another all-electric house, we had four children and had to run at least the washing machine more than once a day sometimes. What with that and all the extra units used by another TV, games consoles, more cooking etc, we couldn't use enough units at night to break even.

I've obviously got it wrong about the difference in unit cost - maybe our total bill halved? Mabybe nothing halved!

If you've used 238 units for two summer months at day rate, that seems low to our guzzling house so maybe you're a smaller family that could organise the night use to make up a reasonable proportion of total units.

I found it quite liberating when we got rid of Econ7 to be able to put things on when we needed to, rather than by the clock so if it was me, I'd find a supplier who'd swap free and switch.

moneysavingwannabe

Cardew wrote: »

Just check you have the times of E7 correct, they often change with British Summer Time.

Oooh can they do that?? Thankyou will check :beer:

brysiewysie

These are the E7 times for different regions. I know it's eon but they'll be the same whoever you are with;

http://www.eonenergy.com/FAQ/Meters/Economy-7-Details.htm

moneysavingwannabe

Magentasue wrote: »

Before our children were born, we lived in an all-electric house and had the washing machine and tumble driers on timers to catch the cheap electricity. No dishwasher in those days. And we were low users because we were out so much.

When we moved into another all-electric house, we had four children and had to run at least the washing machine more than once a day sometimes. What with that and all the extra units used by another TV, games consoles, more cooking etc, we couldn't use enough units at night to break even.

I've obviously got it wrong about the difference in unit cost - maybe our total bill halved? Mabybe nothing halved!

If you've used 238 units for two summer months at day rate, that seems low to our guzzling house so maybe you're a smaller family that could organise the night use to make up a reasonable proportion of total units.

I found it quite liberating when we got rid of Econ7 to be able to put things on when we needed to, rather than by the clock so if it was me, I'd find a supplier who'd swap free and switch.

Hi, thanks for your reply yes at the moment it's just 2 of us. So we can try and use the cheaper time a bit more maybe??

I suppose we have used less cos we were away for 2 wks on honeymoon (so planning for kids in next few yrs!) although I have used more in the day because I'm on my 6 wks holiday and have been in more.

We have only swapped a couple of months ago to the scottish power fixed 2011 deal so would prob not want to switch at the moment cos we got it early before the prices went up. So hopefully the rates aren't too bad?? Seemed the best at the time. Compared to the npower deal we were on we should save some money. They were taking £95 a month. :mad:

Magentasue

If just two of you, should be easy to up the night units. Silly not to, really!

moneysavingwannabe

Scottish Power website
With an economy 7 meter you get cheaper electricity during the night. This may be controlled by a timer in the meter, a separate timer or a radio signal. The times for the off-peak period vary across the country and can be different for customers living in the same area. Your economy 7 meter may operate at different times, but you still receive at least 7 hours at the cheaper rate. Your supplier does not hold any information on the exact times of your meter. The best way to learn the off-peak period is to look at your meter around the times indicated below. Please note that the times on the meter are always set to GMT and do not change when the clocks go forward or back.

East Midlands = 11pm - 7am

Hmm we had a timer thing in the pantry but turned it into a downstairs toilet and they took it out - will this effect anything?? If the timer is in the meter it wouldn't know which company we are with would it so it might be different times to the ones they are quoting??Does this mean I have to get up early and look to see which part is turning round?? Now I'm even more confused!!

moneysavingwannabe

Magentasue wrote: »

If just two of you, should be easy to up the night units. Silly not to, really!

Hmm so should charge phones etc at night? Although would that use more cos they would be plugged in all night?

Magentasue

I'd focus on the white goods rather than phone chargers.