Wet Electric and Economy 10

stubev10

Hopefully someone can help!

I have just moved into a rental property which has a wet-electric heating system and a heatrae sadia electromax boiler. I have been told that this is not a very efficient system but I am currently on a standard electricity tariff with Spark Energy - I can only assume that this is the worst possible set up in terms of value for money. My landlord has given me the green light to change tariffs and energy providers if necessary and would contribute towards costs of installing a new meter as long as it wasn't too expensive.

I have done some research into economy 7 and 10 tariffs but have found it difficult to determine what would be the most effective. My girlfriend and I really only need the heating on for an hour in the morning and an hour at night, so we are not heavy energy users as we are out of the flat most of the day during the week. At the moment we are trying not to use the heating at all, but the west coast of Scotland is getting pretty cold!

Any help would be appreciated.

A cold student.

HappyMJ

Get off Spark now...whatever you do that is the worst tariff ever. It always ends up last whenever I do comparisons.

The standard rates for Spark are in my area....
Primary rates 8p for gas and 28p for electric
Secondary rates 5.6p for gas and 21.2p for electric

In your area Scottish Hydro it's worse
24.56p for secondary rates on the electricity.

stubev10

Sorry I should have made it clear my supply region is Scottish Power. The last bill we received from Spark worked out to be 19.734p for the first 225 units and 11.897p as the second rate. However, I have done some research into them as a company and they seem very unreliable i.e. undercharging you and then hitting you with a massive correction bill as well as cases of overcharging. I really do want to move away from them as they seem totally unpredictable.

Ally74

Ask Scottish Power about economy 2000, an 18hr off peak tariff designed for that heating system.

Not sure if there's any criteria to qualify for it (or indeed if the tariff still exists) but it works out the off peak does your heating and hot water only and a standard domestic does everything else 24/7.

Worth asking.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Issues like :

- age & useage, if you are home all day the day / night cost split will be near to 50/50%

- E10 is the luxury end of E7 .. .. and like all luxury products you will pay extra for the premium privilege

- given that you have what you have and are not able to change it, it would be better to go E7

- one main storage radiator in the living area set to low and water [ if the water is connected to the E7 tariff ] at the cheap rate overnight

- would do much to mitigate the costs of a west coast winter, you will however need a~n~other form of supplementary heating

Ask the two providers of E7 / E10 in your area for a prediction for your home for the next 12 months and specifically say the words "what is the cheapest tariff you offer for my needs"
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NOTE : The age comment does not apply to you .. .. I posted the info to help any others who fit the age criteria understand

stubev10

Thanks for the help.

I'm aiming to have our electricity bill to average at around £45-65 a month, so hopefully an E7 or E10 might make this more possible. Currently at £65 a month without using the central heating. I have made some progress today thanks to your suggestions.

Richie-from-the-Boro

stubev10 wrote: »

Thanks for the help.

I'm aiming to have our electricity bill to average at around £45-65 a month, so hopefully an E7 or E10 might make this more possible. Currently at £65 a month without using the central heating. I have made some progress today thanks to your suggestions.

Your target of £50 apm is a very ambitious target for your area of the country for the wintertime months, it may however be achievable as an annual average. I have a M8 who retired to the Loch Cluanie area to a very beautiful but thermally incompetent home. Its all been internally boarded now with 5" thick thermo-panels and full central heating installed, but for the first three years while he was installing [ cost ] the insulation he used three of these to heat that massive cathedral of a house.

NOTE-HINT : aircraft / model jets / police helicopters use this fuel which is available at 90p per litre rather than the £1.70 most purveyors charge.

If you are prepared to (1) use an electric shower for hygiene and (2) boil kettles for hot water a one off spend of £200 or so on a Tozane burner would more than comfortably heat your entire flat for 6 hours per night - not just the 1 hour you stipulate.

In which case you do not go E7 and certainly not E10 in any circumstances. I hope this helps you understanding, the best of luck to you Stubev10.