Economy 7 - got it but don't want it

EnglandFalls

I've got an Economy 7 meter. I don't think it will do me any good. The only electric that will be used at night is for the water boiler just before 7am. I've read up on the tariffs and EDF's new Online Energy v5 seems best for me, but it says "This tariff is not available to ... customers with an Economy 7 meter". I wouldn't be surprised if the company can't simply take both readings and apply the same rate to them (after all this is England in 2009 - that's far too complicated, and we shouldn't expect such things) but I don't think I want Economy 7. The day rate is much higher than on equivalent flat rate tariffs. I have a gas fire anyway and it's only a flat.

So what do we think? Do I have to use Economy 7? Can I get this EDF deal?

Thanks

elsien

When I had mine, I was told that some companies will adjust the readings to compensate if you tell them you don't want economy seven. You can also request that they change the meter - mine got changed within a couple of weeks.

EnglandFalls

Compensating seems to be sensible. It would be ridiculous to have to change the meter for a simple n(x+y) calculation instead of n(x)+m(y). I suppose I will have to call and ask on Monday, though I'm bound to get someone with no idea who makes up an answer and swears by it anyway.

Cardew

Some companies add the readings from both meters together and charge for the total on a standard tariff.

I have a E7 meter but haven't had E7 for years. I am with BG and if I use, say, 200kWh on the E7 meter and 1,000kWh on the daytime meter, I am charged for 1,200kWh on my 'normal' tariff.

EnglandFalls

One interesting thing is that when you apply for the tariff on EDF's site, they ask if you've read the terms and conditions (yes - nothing about E7 in there) and if you are currently on an E7 tariff (no - well, not to their knowledge) and then they offer you the deal. So that ought to be fine. They'll have to add my readings together! I'm sure they'll find some reason to fine me for something of course

Bark01

Ring them up, they will either do a free meter exchange or add both flows together.

tfspark

I've been through all this recently.

Currently with Scottish Power standard rate duel fuel and Economy 7.
I can save about £300 by switching to non E7.
I used a comparison site and spoke to the top four 'winners'.
E.ON is the only one prepared to give me a non E7 tariff with a E7 meter. All the others (including SP) said a new meter is required.
There may or may not be a charge for this. Will still be worth doing after paying for a meter change.

I've switched to E.ON.

Banyeg

I am in the process of changing suppliers as well and have got the same issues. I.e. have the Economy 7 meter but don't want it, also I wanted to choose the EDF online V5.

I gave them a call a few mins ago. I have been told that they don't add the day + night rate together. You can't possibly have the Online V5 contract with an economy 7 meter. I have asked them if they would exchange my meter to a standard one, they said yes. There's a catch, though, it wouldn't apply with the Online V5 tariff.

So, the only way to get around it is that you enter to a different contract with EDF (one of their economy 7), then you ask them to change your meter to a standard one, then you change to Online V5. I'll check their Economy 5 tariffs, but if it's too expensive, I don't think I'll risk this option because I could be stuck on it for a whole year (they said I can change it anytime but lots of time they say something and then you get the letter demanding you to pay extra fees for stuff). Also Online V5 is a limited offer.

Looool, just read a bit on EDF's site about the V5, they say the offer is only on for a few more weeks :S. Knowing my luck, I'd enter to a contract with them just to find out that I can't switch to the Online V5 as it's not valid anymore or something like that :S. With other words we are screwed!!!!! Let me know if there's any progress on your side.

The 2nd best option on Economy 7 for me was the Scottish Power Online energy saver Economy 7.

Will keep you informed if I find out anything.

deanos

I got my dads changed from SP recently it was £51 , it took a week to get changed, then i signed him up to EDF V5 which is going through now.

Swipe

My house was E7 with npower when I moved in. I found the easiest thing to do was switch to single rate tariff with npower who then came out to swap my E7 dual meters out for a single rate digital one. Once this was done I switched to BG. I was advised by npower that this was the best way of doing it as not all companies would take you on a single rate tariff with dual meters.

Banyeg

Swipe, I like your solution and that's what I'm going to do!

Thanks a lot everyone!!!