The 'Wrong Type' of Electricity Meter?

peter.dale

I am posting in desperation - desperate for a solution and curious to know if anyone else has had this problem. It seems that whatever I do, I can't switch electricity provider and when I try, the new provider often shifts me back to the old one after a few weeks.

To fill in a few more details to my circumstances, I live in a purpose-built studio flat and have been with E-on/Powergen for many years through all of its name changes, since I moved. I decided to switch in 2006 to Atlantic Energy and Gas and sent in my application through uSwitch. They sent me a welcome letter and even created a direct debit for bill payment. Six months later and several payments later, they sent me a letter saying they "registered [my] electric supply in error" and packed me off back to E-on (who didn't make my life particularly pleasant upon my return).

I tried switching again in 2007 to Scottish Power and they too welcomed me only to send me a letter a few months later telling me that "due to the metering configuration in [my] premises [they] currently do not have a suitable compatible electricity pricing arrangement to meet [my] requirements". I wrote to them to express my confusion considering I had applied for an Economy 7 tariff, which is exactly what I am on with E-on. They replied saying: "I can confirm the details held by the registration department for your area show you have a 10 hour economy rate meter and we do not have a tariff that would support this. If the meter was changed to an economy 7 you would need to have your current supplier notify the registration department."

I wrote to E-on to notify the registration department and they said "as you are being billed correctly on an Economy 7 tariff you do not need to worry", which to me sounds like if I stick with them I'll be OK, and to hell with me if I want to switch.

One question I have is this: Is there a legal obligation for them to notify the registration department?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated to help end this apparent monopoly E-on seems to have over me. I have just applied to switch again to nPower and it should be interesting to see what happens with that.

Cardew

Several people have experienced problems when they are on an Economy 10 tariff(or they have Economy 10 meters) Lots of cases in Scotland.

Your best bet is to contact Energywatch and ask them to sort it out - they are very helpful.

peter.dale

Thanks, Cardew. I was not aware of Economy 10 but will contact Energywatch as you suggest, and post results of the outcome.

Premier_2

I believe nPower and Southern Electric also offer E10 tariffs - but you need to work out if they would be better than Eon for your personal circumstances.

If Eon can make an E10 meter work for an E7 tariff, then perhaps these other two can too (if thats what suits you best).

nonresidentparent

The difference between the E7 and E10 meters is very simple:

E7 - 7 hours of cheaper electricity between mid-night and 7am
E10 - 10 Hours of Cheap electricity, similarly timed above but split so you get 3 more late evening i believe

The meters have 2 rates, and you are billed according to how much you use on each rate, the meter doesnt cause a problem.

If you use 100 units per month on rate 1 and 200 units on rate 2 its irrelevant what meter you have, becuase you still have 2 rates.

The meter maybe different but all suppliers bill based on a Pence per unit for each rate, if you switch supplier and they bill you as economy 7 you wont be any worse off if you have the E10 meter.

Cardew

nonresidentparent wrote: »

The difference between the E7 and E10 meters is very simple:

E7 - 7 hours of cheaper electricity between mid-night and 7am
E10 - 10 Hours of Cheap electricity, similarly timed above but split so you get 3 more late evening i believe

The meters have 2 rates, and you are billed according to how much you use on each rate, the meter doesnt cause a problem.

If you use 100 units per month on rate 1 and 200 units on rate 2 its irrelevant what meter you have, becuase you still have 2 rates.

The meter maybe different but all suppliers bill based on a Pence per unit for each rate, if you switch supplier and they bill you as economy 7 you wont be any worse off if you have the E10 meter.

I am not sure it is actually that simple, although I believe your example is probably the more normal tariff.

Some knowlegable Utility company employees have posted on here that there are a plethora of differing tariffs from each company in various parts of the country - with Scotland having the biggest variety.

Indeed some people have posted on here that they pay 3 different rates for daytime, daytime 'top-up' and night(4 differing rates if you include Tier 1/Tier2)

Some also split E10 into, say, 3hr + 3hr + 4hr all charged at the one rate.

Unfortunatly what might be the case in my area/company might not apply in another.

neil40

I would'nt hold your breath with Energywatch.They are almost as useless as the utility companies:rolleyes:

brysiewysie

E10 is more of a comfort tariff. You'd have more options if you had a meter exchange to an E7 meter although Eon would charge £50 for this (unless you're a vulnerable type customer).

CROYDONIA12345

nonresidentparent wrote: »

The difference between the E7 and E10 meters is very simple:

E7 - 7 hours of cheaper electricity between mid-night and 7am
E10 - 10 Hours of Cheap electricity, similarly timed above but split so you get 3 more late evening i believe

The meters have 2 rates, and you are billed according to how much you use on each rate, the meter doesnt cause a problem.

If you use 100 units per month on rate 1 and 200 units on rate 2 its irrelevant what meter you have, becuase you still have 2 rates.

The meter maybe different but all suppliers bill based on a Pence per unit for each rate, if you switch supplier and they bill you as economy 7 you wont be any worse off if you have the E10 meter.

^^^^

If you have an E10 meter, and you're on an E7 tariff, i'd keep quiet personally. Your meter is registering 3 hours of your expensive time usage on your cheap time meter...

It'd work for me:T