Changing from Heatwise

Panander

My partners house was built in 1995 - she moved into it from new. It has always had gas central heating and gas heated water. It has never had storage heaters. It had a Heatwise meter fitted when it was built. As far as I can ascertain this was totally the wrong meter for the house. Why? Haven't a clue. She is with E-on and pays a lot for electricity and probably has done from day one.

Trying to change from this to a standard meter is a nightmare. Mention of the word Heatwise to other suppliers causes them to say they can't touch it and it will have to be changed. She has been told various things from that E-on will do it for nothing to she will have to employ an electrician to do a survey and then pay E-on for a new meter. Every call to them supplies a new different answer. She is totally confused.

Can anyone help in advising the way forward to enable her to reduce her electricity bills.

Ivrytwr3

i was on heatwise with EON. Like you say most other suppliers will not take you on as their systems cannot handle heatwise readings. I was advised by EON to change to a different tarrif which involved a meter change for free.

I called their usual customer service line and sorted it that way.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Panander

Heatwise metering is specifically designed for all electric properties with storage heaters. They are generally installed at the request of the property builder/developer.

As the property in question has always been heated by gas, it's difficult to say why Heatwise was initially requested.

It's certainly possible to remove the Heatwise part of the set up to leave your partner with a standard meter.

In all electric properties, Heatwise is wired directly into the water/heating circuits and removing it may have an impact on these.

Consequently, we advise customers thinking about removing Heatwise to have their property checked by an independent electrician first. This is to make sure there are no adverse effects on their water/heating requirements.

As I say, I'm at a loss to understand why Heatwise was requested for a property where there is gas water heating and gas central heating and no storage heaters or water immersion heater.

However, I would still ask an electrician to check it out as there may be something else wired into the Heatwise. I'm just not sure about this.

Should all be ok, we will remove the Heatwise part of the meter. We usually charge £51.06 to cover this work.

Heatwise is installed with either a single rate or, more usually, an Economy 7 meter. What type of meter does your partner have?

If it's Economy 7, I would check out the usage at the property. If the majority of electricity is used during the daytime, it may well be financially better to have a single rate tariff.

In these circumstances, there's no need to change the meter. We can add the night and day usage together and charge as a single rate.

Hope this is useful Panander. Give me a shout if I can help further as will be happy to do so.

Malc

Panander

Thanks for that Malc .... something clearly explained.

The meter is an Economy E7 Heatwise one. There is a red and blue button on the front and two separate circuit breakers to the side. It has 5 meter readings, three of which (3,4 & 5) are all at zero ... they never change. Like you I am baffled as to why this system was installed in the first place. I am also somewhat puzzled why its usage figures as presented by the meter has not been noted by the company - I thought customer service was all these days.

Most of the electricity used in the household is daytime use. Heating and water is all via gas. We will have to get it removed that is for sure - should have been done years ago.

Thanks again

--
Mick

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Hi Mick

It certainly looks as though you're not benefiting at all from this metering set up and you're absolutely right to see about having it replaced.

Whilst you wait for the meter to be changed, I would ask to go on a single rate tariff rather than Economy 7. As most of your usage is during the day, this should certainly save money as Economy 7 daytime rates are higher than a single rate tariff.

Give us a call and this can be done immediately. You don't have to wait until the meter is actually changed.

Hope this helps Mick. Let me know if I can help further as will be happy to do so.

Malc

Panander

Hello Malc ....

Changed over to the single tariff today as you suggested. No problems. Many thanks for your help.

spiro

As you are now on a single rate tariff you should in theory be able to swap suppliers if you want. When you meter is next due to be changed (they all have a fixed life before they need testing) then when you get the letter advising you of this you can advise the supplier (whoever it is at the time) that you have an old multirate meter installed but that you are on a single rate tariff and are happy for the meter to be exchanged for one.

I do agree that you should probably get a sparkie to check you wiring as you may still have an elec immersion heating element in your hot water tank you use when you have no gas or choose not to use gas. If you have this may need to have the wiring moved.