night/day rates

jocojohn

Hi new member, Ist post,
Like most people these days I am checking ways to save money. I use Scottish power for both gas and electricity but as their
help centre is closed at weekends I have a couple of questions I hope some can help with.
First, what tme does the day/night rate start/finish for electricity?
Second, since their price increase in Sept 08 I am now charged 2 rates for gas ( domestic primary/secondary ). How do they
know what gas was used at what time of day with a standard gas meter giving only one reading.
Thanks, John.

Magentasue

If you have gas heating, you probably shouldn't be on Economy 7.

Economy 7 tariffs give you seven hours of cheaper electricity. You pay a higher than normal rate for electricity used during the day. Everyone else pays the same rate day and night. Are you sure you have Economy 7?

If you don't pay a daily standing charge, you pay more for the first kwh you use - say 225 a quarter. Then you pay the normal rate. The extra you've paid for the primary rates amounts to a standing charge.

Does that make sense?

Joyful

The period for cheap night rate depends on where you are in the country. Best bet is to ask your supplier. Can usually be any time between 11pm and 7am.

Premier_2

Once you know what time the electricity rates should switch, check the accuracy of the clock on the meter.;)

jocojohn

Thanks for those replies but Im still confused as to how they can charge 2 rates for gas usage when I have an old style meter that has only one reading and no clock. John

Magentasue

jocojohn wrote: »

Thanks for those replies but Im still confused as to how they can charge 2 rates for gas usage when I have an old style meter that has only one reading and no clock. John

If you don't pay a daily standing charge, you pay more for the first kwh you use - say 225 a quarter. Then you pay the normal rate. The extra you've paid for the primary rates amounts to a standing charge.

jocojohn

Thanks for that, I understand what you are saying, but before the price increase in Sept I was only paying one rate for gas and as far as I`m aware no mention was made of any standing charge change. John

Magentasue

jocojohn wrote: »

Thanks for that, I understand what you are saying, but before the price increase in Sept I was only paying one rate for gas and as far as I`m aware no mention was made of any standing charge change. John

Before Sept you would have been paying a standing charge. It seems that they've switched you over - it shouldn't make much difference.

Premier_2

You possibly didn't use enough gas to reach the tier2 level in the summer, so all your gas would have been charged at the higher tier1 price.

The current cut off point for tier1 with SP is 1143kwh per quarter for gas, 225kWh per quarter for electricity.

You would either have been on a no standing charge tariff and liable for the 2 tier pricing, or you paid a standing charge and only had single tier pricing

jocojohn

Thank you all for those answers, the variable rates and charges etc just shows what a difficult job it is to compare utility companies. Why cant they just charge x pence for y units, but then life would be easy. thanks again, John