Changing electricity meters - high/low?

Fat_Debtor

Hi

I've got to have my meter replaced soon, and am wondering;

1. Why they need to do this, and

2. whether to keep with having 2 dials (high/low), or just go for one at a flat rate.

I'm a very low user of electricity, and don't use much nighttime electricity - do you generally get a cheaper standard rate with a single dial?

Magentasue

Cheaper with single rate for day and night, unless you have storage heaters or, otherwise use a lot of electricity off peak.

Meters are supposed to be removed and recalibrated every so many years. Talk to your supplier about changing tariff before the meter replacement is booked.

Premier_2

The meter needs to be replaced simply because they don't last forever. As they get older, they may start to become inaccurate so they are replaced on a regular basis before this happens. The supplier will normally replace them on a like for like basis at no cost to the customer.

With regards changing the meter from a dual rate to a single rate, this needs some calculation on your part.
Traditionally it was always said that E7 normal (daytime) rates were higher than single rates, and that you needed to use at significant amounts of overnight electricity for E7 to be better off on a dual rate tariff, but this isn't always the case now. In fact with some suppliers tariffs and regions, the normal E7 rate is lower than the standard single rate, plus of course the E7 customer gets lower rates at night.
e.g. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1207887

Also a number of suppliers are now being reported as allowing you to be billed on a single rate, despite you having a dual rate meter. Of course, you can't have E7 without a dual rate meter so you may be restricting your future options if you opt for a single rate meter.
(there is sometimes a charge to change from single rate to dual rate meters & vive versa)

bombardier

Premier wrote: »

Also a number of suppliers are now being reported as allowing you to be billed on a single rate, despite you having a dual rate meter. Of course, you can't have E7 without a dual rate meter so you may be restricting your future options if you opt for a single rate meter.
(there is sometimes a charge to change from single rate to dual rate meters & vive versa)

Interesting. I've just been having an argument with BG about this very subject - we have recently moved and there is a dual rate meter at the property. I told BG that I didn't want it, and they said once I'd received my welcome letter, to phone them and ask to get it changed for a single rate meter, and that it would be free of charge. The person I just spoke to said it was £41 to change the meter, but that I didn't need to because I was on a single rate tariff.

Can anyone confirm that this is true? I will take a 'low' reading before midnight and again in the morning to see if it's changed. Also, how do I find out the standard unit cost of a particular tariff to check that I'm paying the right amount per unit?

Many thanks.

Premier_2

bombardier wrote: »

Interesting. I've just been having an argument with BG about this very subject - we have recently moved and there is a dual rate meter at the property. I told BG that I didn't want it, and they said once I'd received my welcome letter, to phone them and ask to get it changed for a single rate meter, and that it would be free of charge. The person I just spoke to said it was £41 to change the meter, but that I didn't need to because I was on a single rate tariff.

Can anyone confirm that this is true? I will take a 'low' reading before midnight and again in the morning to see if it's changed. Also, how do I find out the standard unit cost of a particular tariff to check that I'm paying the right amount per unit?

Many thanks.

If you have a dual rate meter and you use some electricity during the off peak period, the meter will record that as off peak usage.

The suppliers that allow a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter do so by either adding the normal & off peak consumption together and charging you that consumption at the standard rate, or detail both sets of readings on the bill (like if you had economy 7) but charge both normal & off peak usage at the same standard tariff unit rates.

Fat_Debtor

Premier wrote: »

The meter needs to be replaced simply because they don't last forever. As they get older, they may start to become inaccurate so they are replaced on a regular basis before this happens. The supplier will normally replace them on a like for like basis at no cost to the customer.

With regards changing the meter from a dual rate to a single rate, this needs some calculation on your part.
Traditionally it was always said that E7 normal (daytime) rates were higher than single rates, and that you needed to use at significant amounts of overnight electricity for E7 to be better off on a dual rate tariff, but this isn't always the case now. In fact with some suppliers tariffs and regions, the normal E7 rate is lower than the standard single rate, plus of course the E7 customer gets lower rates at night.
e.g. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1207887

Also a number of suppliers are now being reported as allowing you to be billed on a single rate, despite you having a dual rate meter. Of course, you can't have E7 without a dual rate meter so you may be restricting your future options if you opt for a single rate meter.
(there is sometimes a charge to change from single rate to dual rate meters & vive versa)

Thanks.

My rates are;

For the first 225 units used each quarter of electric you are charged 16.696 pence per unit, the day rate is 10.850 pence per unit and the night rate is 5.270 pence per unit.

Do you think it'd be cheaper switching to a single rate, bearing in mind my night rate was a whole 15 units last quarter?

bombardier

Premier wrote: »

If you have a dual rate meter and you use some electricity during the off peak period, the meter will record that as off peak usage.

The suppliers that allow a single rate tariff on a dual rate meter do so by either adding the normal & off peak consumption together and charging you that consumption at the standard rate, or detail both sets of readings on the bill (like if you had economy 7) but charge both normal & off peak usage at the same standard tariff unit rates.

Thanks for the info - I got BG to send me a bill for the first week of service so that I could check and I'm more confused than ever, not to mention horrified. £28.93 for 9 days usage? That just can't be right. I'm going to call them now.

KimYeovil

That is not at all expensive for 9 days use (unless you have no electric heating.)

And don't confuse the two-tier day rates with the day and night rate issue.