Eon/Heatwise is a con

owain.davies

On some heatwise installations it is possible to change meters without internal rewiring, but on others it isn't. It will depend on your set up in the house. The two alternate set ups are (1) a single meter with 5 rates, or (2) two meters, one with 2 rates and one with 3 rates.

Changing to another meter depends on being able to have both 'tails' from your heating and domestic put in to a single meter - this is signficantly easier on a single meter installation.

You would have to request this through E.On, whose MOP (metering services) would be able to quote you for the job, but it will almost certainly be chargeable. They would also have to have one of the two 'MPAN' numbers assigned to your property 'turned off', although if your meter has been changed this has no practical effect on you.

You would still be better on a split rate meter, with a single MPAN E7 being the easiest to switch to other suppliers, but bear in mind this only gives you 7 hours in the dead of night at a cheaper (but not cheap) rate. Single MPAN E10 would be preferable, but you may still find this difficult to switch with, as not all suppliers will take these on, and I don't think any swithcing sites support it.

Despite the high costs, it may actually end up costing you more to switch. Sorry, but not a lot else you can do.

derbydebtor

space_rider wrote: »

All you need to do is to turn the storage heaters or whatever you have running off the heatwise meter when you leave the house in the morning. That way it won`t get the afternoon boost or the evening one if you don`t need it. you just need to turn it back on when you go to bed or before 1am to get the over night boost. You can do the same with the immersion heater. Heatwise was never marketed as a cheap tariff. It`s a comfort tariff.

Can you tell me if you have storage heaters, I can help you reduce the bills even further. I used to have storage heaters so I know how they work. I never had a problem with the cost of them because I used them as efficiently as I could.

Hi I am new to these forums, my first post infact. I have am on the awful tariff and would love to know how to cut my electricity bill. I have storage heaters. All help graitfully apricated.

space_rider

http://64.233.183.132/search?q=cache:JbnDgRDjnrQJ:www.changeworks.org.uk/uploads/wat/Storage_Heaters.pdf+energy+efficiency+storage+heaters&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=21&gl=uk

Have a read of the above. I would also turn the immersion heater off when you leave the house as you don`t need it to be on for the full 3 hours in afternoon and 2 in the evening or vice versa. We used to get by on just 3 hours with a family of 2 adults and 3 children who always had baths before bed.

storminbalder

Thanks for the replies.

Space rider. I do all of these things already.

Owain Davies. Very helpful. You have confirmed what Id suspected. Too complicated ans I am seemingly stuck. I just narks me that a profiteering has me locked into what is essentially a monopoly. They can charge wahtever they like and there's nothing I can do about it - I mean 35p a unit for 900 units per year is beyond ridiculous isn't it - it's £307 per year for next to nothing.

Derby Debtor. You're local to me. Are you paying the same tarriffs that I posted in the first post? I'd e interested to know.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

storminbalder

Also the idea that Heatwide was marketed as a comfort tarriff doeasn't cut the mustard with me either. It makes no sense. I've worked out that over a year I pay nearly 14p per unit overall - and that's trying to use as few of the daytime units as possible, ie never using boost, using washing machine at night etc. Basically the 35p unit rate is so high and with it being for 900 units it more than wipes out any savings you can make elsewhere.

I might as well have a normal single rate tarriff which would cost considerably less, and then you also have the benefit of being able to use the electricity when you want to as opposed to the inconvenience of always trying to use the electricity at the cheap times.

Comfort tarriff - paying more for greater inconvenience and restrictions = no sense!

space_rider

Is it your own property or is it rented?

When heatwise was first marketed it was good because it gave those with storage heaters an extra boost. It was always a bit more expensive than the economy 7 tariff because it gave you 10 hours instead of 7.

You used to be able to ask for E7 meter if you couldn`t afford it but I understand that you have to pay to get the meter changed. If it is your own property and the flat is small then it may be worth your while paying to change the meter as you `ll be able to go where you want for your electricity.

storminbalder

It is rented.

What I am trying to say though is that a tariff that works out at 14p a unit (average) on which you're heavily restricted on the times when you can use your electricity (assuming you don't want the average cost to be even higher) doesn't make any sense at all.

Why have the restrictions when you can have a normal tariff at a lot less per unit and be able to use the electricity when you want (ie not having to get up at 6am to start the washing machine).

I can understand the point of tariffs that inconvenience you, IF there is a financial incentive for you to do so. Otherwise it is a nonsense.

space_rider

storminbalder wrote: »

It is rented.

What I am trying to say though is that a tariff that works out at 14p a unit (average) on which you're heavily restricted on the times when you can use your electricity (assuming you don't want the average cost to be even higher) doesn't make any sense at all.

Why have the restrictions when you can have a normal tariff at a lot less per unit and be able to use the electricity when you want (ie not having to get up at 6am to start the washing machine).

I can understand the point of tariffs that inconvenience you, IF there is a financial incentive for you to do so. Otherwise it is a nonsense.

Ok, I have just phoned 0800363363 and pretended you are my daughter. I have asked if you can have the heatwise meter but just have the standard rate for the rest of your useage as you are not using anything that justifies the high daytime rate. The person I spoke to said you can but obviously they need your customer number to check the details. Let me know how you go.

storminbalder

space_rider wrote: »

Ok, I have just phoned 0800363363 and pretended you are my daughter. I have asked if you can have the heatwise meter but just have the standard rate for the rest of your useage as you are not using anything that justifies the high daytime rate. The person I spoke to said you can but obviously they need your customer number to check the details. Let me know how you go.

You have clearly gone out of your way for me. Thanks very much.

And what's more, I believe you've found he solution.

Have just called them (for about the 14th time this week - they must be getting sick of me), and sure enough you are completely correct and I have swapped to the much cheaper normal tariff. Whats more they say they can back date this to 8 September 2008 (the date I moved in).

Still a little expensive, but much much better.

So, a big thanks from your loving daughter.:D

space_rider

Yeah, I`m pleased about that. Was in bed racking my brains trying to think of a solution. Shame when you`ve been phoning they didn`t think of that but at least you got there and I`m glad they`ve backdated it.