Electricity Meter Types

tombland

i've just had my Pre-Pay Meter switched to a standard meter by a guy from EDF. it was all done for free and without hassle. on his way out the guy who did it said i had a two-rate meter, which i didn't need because we don't have electric storage heaters – our central heating is gas. he said we'd been throwing money away by having this type of meter and recommended i call up to get it switched to a standard one-rate meter.

i don't quite understand it and i've searched online without any answers really.

my only guess is that it's something to do with how we are billed. Energy suppliers charge different rates for on and off peak as default. Is my two-rate meter operating at fixed prices?

hope someone can help with this...
thanks

spiro

There are 2 related issues here; How your consumption is measured (meter configuration) and How you are billed (tariff). If you have a 2-rate meter but and not using at least 40% of your electricity overnight you need to ensure you supplier has you on a standard (24/7) tariff. They can bill you like this by adding the consumption from the 2 rates on the meter together or by chanrging both day and night at the same price. Hope that helps.

Magentasue

If you have storage heaters, you use a huge amount of electricity overnight and usually better off with Economy 7. You get cheap electricity overnight but pay a higher daytime rate.

If you don't have storage heaters, you're probably better off with a single rate tariff.

Garz

spiro wrote: »

If you have a 2-rate meter but and not using at least 40% of your electricity overnight you need to ensure you supplier has you on a standard (24/7) tariff.

This is not quite accurate, but in a roundabout way are on the right track. It only makes sense to stay on cheaper off-peak tarrifs if you can hammer your usage at that time, or maybe have a lifestyle suited to those hours.