Electricity economy 10

HappyMJ

Rogbrad wrote: »

Probably way too late to be of interest but - We're doing a barn conversion and are using Ground Source heating run, obviously, on electricity. We use SWALEC and they came and fitted an E10 meter without problem. Our bill for last year was around £500 and includes all heating, lighting, everything (we don't have access to mains gas) so we are very pleased.
I'm surprised that suppliers seem to be cutting back on this tarrif as more people are likely to want this kind of heating system. It's also best for Storage Heaters too as there is the afternoon and evening boost. We get off-peak rates for 04:30 - 07:30, 13:00 - 16:00 and 20:30 - 00:30. Current prices are around 8p off peak and 17p on peak.

That's a very expensive tariff. Shop around and you can get standard rates under 10p/kWh. OVO charges 9.345p/kWh. Npower charges 9.86p/kWh.

Cardew

Rogbrad wrote: »

We get off-peak rates for 04:30 - 07:30, 13:00 - 16:00 and 20:30 - 00:30. Current prices are around 8p off peak and 17p on peak.

Welcome to the Forum

Sorry but that is a dreadful deal.

As said above you would be much better off on a single rate tariff paying around 10p/kWh.

Especially for heat pumps which cannot be switched on and off but should be left running.

It would be easy for you to calculate the costs of both tariffs.

(xxxkWh @ off-peak + xxxkWh @ peak rate) compared to (Total consumption @ single rate tariff.)

Rogbrad

Cardew wrote: »

Welcome to the Forum

Sorry but that is a dreadful deal.

As said above you would be much better off on a single rate tariff paying around 10p/kWh.

Especially for heat pumps which cannot be switched on and off but should be left running.

It would be easy for you to calculate the costs of both tariffs.

(xxxkWh @ off-peak + xxxkWh @ peak rate) compared to (Total consumption @ single rate tariff.)

Thanks for the welcome and concerned replys .
Several points though - single rate tariffs typically have a much higher rate (~25p) for the first several hundred units and only dropping to the lower rate after that. Or they have a high standing charge (OVO are currently 29p/day!). The calculation above doesn't take account of that and would be a long way out therefore.
2nd point - Heat pumps certainly can, and should, be switched on and off and are recommended for use with Economy 10. (Perhaps E10 was cheaper in the past for this kind of usage though!)
3rd point - Our total electricity bill seems to be quite a bit lower than the "average" household bill of ~£1300!

I will definitely do a comparison though. I have just had a bill and it shows that a standard rate could be a penny a year cheaper.....

HappyMJ

Rogbrad wrote: »

Thanks for the welcome and concerned replys .
Several points though - single rate tariffs typically have a much higher rate (~25p) for the first several hundred units and only dropping to the lower rate after that. Or they have a high standing charge (OVO are currently 29p/day!). The calculation above doesn't take account of that and would be a long way out therefore.
2nd point - Heat pumps certainly can, and should, be switched on and off and are recommended for use with Economy 10. (Perhaps E10 was cheaper in the past for this kind of usage though!)
3rd point - Our total electricity bill seems to be quite a bit lower than the "average" household bill of ~£1300!

I will definitely do a comparison though. I have just had a bill and it shows that a standard rate could be a penny a year cheaper.....

A standard rate would be a penny a year cheaper but you will not be restricted in when you can use energy. Yes they have standing charges but so does E10. The charges are similar. To me to pay a penny more overall to only get 10 hours of cheap electric is not worth it.

A ground source heat pump is much more efficient when left on for long periods. Maybe 3 hours might be the point at which either on or off makes sense but 12 hours on during the day would be more efficient.

GraceCourt

HappyMJ wrote: »

A ground source heat pump is much more efficient when left on for long periods. Maybe 3 hours might be the point at which either on or off makes sense but 12 hours on during the day would be more efficient.

I think you are getting confused with the fact that a heat pump shouldn't be CYCLED unnecessarily... my own shouldn't be cycled more than 4 times/hour.

But the OP is correct - there's no reason why their heat pump shouldn't be switched off during peak supply periods. Not only do the best designs have huge thermal stores (mine has 150 litres around the 300 litre hot water store, plus a 100 litre "buffer tank"), but the house itself should have considerable thermal mass - the ground floor is composed of a concrete slab, and the upstairs has dry screed surrounding the underfloor heating pipes, for that sole reason.

Re leaving it "running" for 12 hours - when the house and all thermal stores are at the correct temperature, the heat pump will have to shut down until there is a demand for more heat.