Unecomonical electric/Tiny heater..dont know what to do?

bitterblue2511

Hope someone can help. I have a tiny storage heater (flat is all electric) and is so uneconomical I am resenting the amount I paid last Winter (approx £700 for 12 mths). I applied to Warmfront to try & get a better heater but was turned down as I already had, what they classed heating??? I suffer with Raynaulds Syndrome (cold hands n feet) in the Winter and it was costing me approx £25-£30 per week in electricity. I am on benefits and my electric is on a key meter, supplier E-On. I am in a one-bedroomed flat. Would it be worth swapping over to quarterly bills I don't really know about swapping providers and could do with some advice pls, thanks.

Pink_fluff

Is it your flat? Or council, private rent etc....£700 a year is not excessive, especially for an all electric flat. Swapping from a key meter to ordinary meter, really won't make much difference to your bills.

KimYeovil

Is it a Economy 7 or a standard tariff? What was your total annual consumption?

Changing to a direct debit payment could make a reasonable difference. Also, different tariffs have very different electricity prices. Changing could make a significant difference to your bills - it depends on your current tariff. Look at the prices in your area on the comparison sites for both E7 and non-E7 tariffs.

Grants are, rightly, not intended for people who already have central heating. But you should be able to receive an interest-free budgeting loan from the DWP.

You could experiment, with caution, with a standard heater just now to see how much you would use and whether its heat is suitable to you. (Of course, if you are on an E7 tariff then do not carry out too extensive tests just now!)

But as already mentioned £25 is not a lot to pay for electric heating seven days during winter.

E.ON_Company_Representative

Hi bitterblue2511,

Electric heating (storage heaters) can be expensive to run if you don’t have the right meter type and tariff.

Check you are on Economy 7, and that the tariff E.ON is charging you is also the E7 version.

If you have a standard prepayment meter, you will be paying more the necessary, so a meter exchange to E7 will benefit you.

Is prepayment suitable for you? If you ever have issues with topping the meter up, you maybe eligible for a meter change to a non prepayment meter. Meter exchanges are chargeable but can be done for free for vulnerable customers.

Call E.ON and tell them that you suffer with Raynaud’s Syndrome, and we will put you on to thePriority Service Register, this may help in the future and even get the meter change carried out.

Once on a credit meter you may be able to find a more beneficial tariff with us, as we can offer you discounts for paying by Direct Debit and registering for an online account.

Brian