Advice/Info on Eon Heatwise Tarriff (very long and complex)

Flibertigibit

I am shortly moving into a new place which has storage heaters. Because I was decorating I stayed over there one night and had all the four storage heaters set on input 7 and output 4 - it's all a bit trial and error right now. Anyhow I was astonished how warm it was in the evening (and even during the night) as I heard that this was classically the time when storage heaters have nearly used up all the stored energy. Because of this, and because I am not living there yet, I have since just left the small one in the hallway and the large one in the lounge on, but turned the output down to 2 to keep the place warm enough to dry the painting. And even that was warm enough so long as you were moving around.

Then I read my meter and discovered I had five rates! And I have read it periodically since over the past 2 weeks. I am used to Economy 7 where you have to read 2 rates, but 5!!! Eventually I discovered I am actually on Eon's "Heatwise" tariff. I couldn't find any info about it on the website, so before ringing them, I turned to trusty MSE and came across the following on another thread, written by Malc, the official Eon rep on the forum.

Premier has posted some really excellent advice. Thought I might add a brief description of our Heatwise metering set ups as they are a bit of a hybrid arrangement.

Heatwise is specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters. It is wired into the water/heating circuits at your property to provide 10 hours of off peak electricity for your water/heating needs.

The Heatwise part sits alongside the standard meter. This is why there are two Meter Point Administration Numbers (MPANs); one for the standard meter and the second to cover the Heatwise part. These MPANs will be noted on your bills.

You can have Heatwise with either Economy 7 or a single rate tariff.

Heatwise automatically switches the storage heaters on during the off peak times and switches them off again when it finishes. Heat is then released gradually throughout the day.

Similarly, if you have an immersion heater, this is switched on and off automatically during the off peak times.

The times the Heatwise off peak is active are approx as follows.

5 continuous hours between 12.00 and 7am.
3 continuous hours between 1pm and 6.30pm.
2 continuous hours between 5.30pm and 10pm.


Based on what Malc says I think I have Hetawise with Economy 7 and decided to phone Eon. If you are ever going to do this, make sure you do it when you are at your most mentally alert - I was not, thanks to all the moving stuff! To make it easier on you, and also perhaps to get it more sorted/fixed in my own head, I will go through what I think I was told by a very patient young man when I asked him to expand or slow down. I go through it rate by rate as they are displayed on the meter.

Rate 1 is the "normal" day rate, which is the one operational outside any of the following cheaper rate times. The charge for the first 900 units is 25.7p (I think each quarter, not each day!!) and thereafter 12.3p per unit. There is a "cheaper" period between 1.00pm - 4.30pm, a 3 and a half hour period, during which I can have up to 3hrs at the cheaper rate. I think the same is true between 5.30pm - 11.00pm, a 5 and a half hour period, during which I can have up to 2hrs cheap usage. My readings for this rate over 3 weeks have been 16095 - 16101 (6 units)

Rate 2 is one of the night rates, which operates from midnight to 7.00am and is for non-heating electricity e.g. washing machines, immersion heaters. Although this is a 7hr period I can only have 5 hrs at this rate. Over the 2 weeks this has stayed at 12685 as obviously I am not doing washing or heating hot water during the night when I'm not living there.

Rate 3 is my favourite - apparently it's for "some boost thing which nobody ever uses". I was happy to let that go as indeed my rate 3 figure had not changed in the 2 weeks I monitored my readings!!

Rates 4 and 5 (how can they both be?) are the other (storage heaters) night rate of 4.5p a unit and I think I can have the full 7hrs worth from midnight to 7.00pm!! Rate 4 has gone from 56319 - 56556 (237 units) and Rate 5 from (149 units). This totals 386 units, coming in at £17.37 or £8.68 a week. If my figures are correct, I don't consider that to be a particularly low figure, given that not even all the heaters are on and those that are are on very low.

Now assuming all this information is correct, and that I have written down what I was told, I am still reeling from the attempt to comprehend how to get the best out of it. One problem as I see it is this "you are only allowed x hrs in a y hrs period, which Malc confirms when he puts "5 continuous hours between 12.00 and 7am.
3 continuous hours between 1pm and 6.30pm
2 continuous hours between 5.30pm and 10pm"
Although the times he gives are slightly different from mine. I asked the young man how that works - does the meter magically know what my hours of choice are, or do I spend my life with one eye on the clock, running round manually turning things on and off depending when I want my 2hr (for example) "allowance" that day?? Eon man seemed totally stumped by this question, though he did agree that the latter plan is completely impractical.

Don't get me wrong - I do think it's a great idea to have a period in the late afternoon at a cheaper rate which will boost up the storage heaters for the evening but OMG it's difficult to understand (I still don't) and without understanding it, how can I use it to the best, most efficient, most economical effect? But just one period of say 4.00pm - 7.00pm would be fine, combined with a cheap night rate from say midnight to 7.00am for heating and everything else. That would give me three rates/readings which I could understand. I mean, I know I am a fairly intelligent woman who is proactive in seeking out information, but how do people who aren't cope with Heatwise + Economy 7? And having got it, how can anybody (other than maybe a computer) figure out if it's saving money or not? And why is there NO information about it all on the Eon website (preferably in a a downloadable PDF leaflet), and how can I be sure I have got accurate information?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flibertigibit

Bumping this because I'm desperate and there must be someone who knows something about this stuff? Hey, Malc, are you there?

jaylu

Check Eon against other suppliers in your area using the energysavinghelplinesite link in this MSE utility section. You may find a cheaper deal. They will do the switch for you. I've just done it..switched from EDF to Scottish Power and it says it can save me about £90 a year. It also gives a customer service rating for the suppliers.

Flibertigibit

Sorry Jaylu but what you suggest is not possible - hardly any suppliers do an equivalent tarriff, and in fact I believe Eon only do it in the East Midlands area. Southern Electric have something similar but say it's supposed to only be for people with "wet" electric heating systems. It is virtually impossible to change suppliers because I understand that the whole system would require extensive and expensive electrical work to make it run on any ordinary meter/tariff. In any case, I am prepared to give it a try on the existing system for a winter just to see how things work out - what I'm looking for is someone who can help me understand all the rates and times and best ways of using them. Luckily, although my new flat is all electric at present I have discovered that there is also a capped off gas supply and when I can afford it, I will consider putting in gas central heating.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Flibertigibit

I'm sorry you're struggling to understand your Heatwise metering set up. Hopefully, I can make things a little clearer.


As per the quote you highlighted, Heatwise is specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters and is only available in the East Midlands region. They work with either a single rate or Economy 7 meter.

In your particular circumstances, the Heatwise unit will sit alongside the standard Economy 7 meter. In total, as you state, there will be five different rates.


The water/heating circuits at your property will be wired directly into the Heatwise unit.

Heatwise automatically switches on and off your storage heaters/immersion water heater during the set times. These are approx as I advised in the post you quoted.

This is done via radio waves sent out by masts across the East Midlands region. I'm afraid, it isn't possible to change the times and they will turn on and off at the same times each day.

I would have a chat with one of our specialist metering teams. They are best placed to tell you the actual times your Heatwise is active. Alternatively, drop an email to the address in my Profile and I will find out for you.

All the water/heating used during the set off peak times is recorded through Heatwise. This is shown on your bills as Heatwise afternoon (Rate 4) and Heatwise evening (Rate 5).

All other usage for general household appliances, lighting etc, goes through the standard Economy 7 meter. This is shown as Day (Rate 1) and Night (Rate 2).

The day usage is charged in the same way as most of our other tariffs. Therefore, day usage will be split into primary and secondary units.

Here, the first 900 kWh usage per year (225 per quarter) is charged at the higher (primary) rate, whilst the remainder is charged at the lower (secondary) rate.


Usage during the Economy 7 period will be charged at the night rate.

Heatwise also has a boost function. This gives you a one hour boost should you require extra hot water outside of the set Heatwise times. This is recorded separately (Rate 3).


Hope this makes things a little clearer Flibertigibit. Give me a shout if you need any more info as will be happy to help.


Malc

Flibertigibit

So good to hear from you Malc!! At the moment my brain hasn't woken up enough to take in and process all the advice/info you've given me, but I'll read it again more thoroughly later and probably get back to you then. I'm so glad you're on MSE because judging by the lack of response, even from people who I generally think are very good when it comes to fuel type/metering questions, not many people have experience of this Heatwise/Economy 7 combination!!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

No problem Flibertigibit; glad to help.

Use the email address in my Profile if you prefer.

Malc

Flibertigibit

Hi Malc - things have been beserk here today and now I have discovered that dear Sky might pull the plug on my broadband and phone at any point in the next 4 days because of the move and might not reinstate it for a further 2 weeks. I have copied this thread onto my hard drive so I can refer to it, but so far the only outstanding question is the one about so many hours in such and such a period. Am I right to assume that the company (via the meter) chooses which hours and that if the weather suddenly went milder (some hope!) I could stop the boost of these extra hours only by switching off the storage heaters at the wall?

I decided to write to you on here rather than to your profile email purely because this thread might be of some use to others in the future, but as I don't know when Sky will do their worst it's possible I may never receive your answer - fingers crossed!!

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Flibertigibit

Sounds like you're in the middle of a real nightmare. Hope things improve for you soon.

Your assumptions are correct. The times the off peak Heatwise water/heating periods kick in are controlled by us. To stop your storage heaters charging up, you need to turn them off at the wall.

Hope this clears this up Flibertigibit and good luck with Sky.

Malc

anpfocus

I have lived in this newly built house for over 11 years and finally thanks to Malc I understand how my Homewise tariff and metering works! Thank you.

I am now a bit surprised that I am on a Homewise tariff as I have gas central heating (and have done from day 1). If it turns out that I am on an inappropriate tariff is it possible to transfer to an alternative tariff with Eon if that is likely to be cheaper? (I have read elsewhere that there are difficulties transferring from this tariff). My gas is also billed through Eon.

Flibertigibit

Obviously you should await Malc's reply but having moved into the property I am finally starting to get used to Heatwise (though nobody else understands when I try to explain it to them!!). Yes, I too have read threads about it being difficult to change to a different tariff from Heatwise if you have the wrong one. I changed from Economy 7 to a standard tariff at my last place because like you, the builders (presumably) had chosen what was an inappropriate tariff, and I got my meter changed for free (with a different company). In your situation (having GCH) it is even more ludicrous to put you onto Heatwise - makes you wonder if builders all over the country are making mistakes like this? Surely someone who knows about energy should check these decisions?

So far, with Heatwise and storage heaters, I'm quite pleased. I have been much warmer than my neighbours who have got storage heaters, but only Economy 7 - for instance I've used the equivalent of £200 in the last 2 months, but given it was the coldest Dec on record and also that I was still learning how to use the heaters with Heatwise, I don't think that's too bad. Several people have said that Heatwise is more a "comfort" tariff than a money saving one such as Ec 7, but give me affordable comfort and warmth any day - I was paying more than that where I lived before and freezing all the time.

But getting back to you - from reading lots of posts it seems to me that the main difficulty of changing from Heatwise is that it is usually wired into your storage heaters (which you haven't got) and immersion heater (you won't have one of those either if you have a combi boiler). It's all a bit of a rum do as my Grandma used to say - heaven knows what it's connected to! I reckon someone, either from Eon or an electrician will have to come and take a good look at it before you can decide anything. Just wondering - are all your neighbours also on this tariff but also have GCH? Have you talked to any of them to see if they've realised and changed?