Economy 7

midlifer

I used to get both my Gas and Electric through British Gas, got a dual fuel discount and I submitted my own meter readings every month and paid by monthly DD for the amount I used.

It was probably less hassle paying a monthly DD and getting meter read every 6 months though.

Anyway I am moving into a flat where there is no Gas in the building and it has economy 7 heating so I wondered which provider offers the best deal for economy 7.

I think most energy companies are about the same cost or if they are lower now they will raise them soon anyway so I suppose I want a company that has a free phone number for customer services and one that has enough staff so I am not on hold for too long should I need to speak to someone.

chris1973

Its a minefield. All E7 tariffs will offer a cheaper overnight tariff but will increase the daytime peak rate in order to cover the majority of the overnight subsidy.

If this happened with Gas customers there would be a huge outcry as they pay around 4p KW/H 24/7, however its 'ok' to do it with Electricity E7 ones!.

Its easy to think that E7 storage heaters will heat a property day and night, but in all seriousness, this rarely happens, and i've yet to rent an E7 property with storage heaters where I was still comfortably warm in winter at 9, 10 or 11pm - which then required some form of peak rate electricity to be used to heat the property when the storage heaters had run out of heat!. Inevitably, the cost of this is around 3 or 4 times the cost of overnight electricity.

I currently pay 5.3p for E7 Units and 18.85p for daytime peak rates, effectively running a 2KW convector heater during peak rate hours would cost me around 37p per hour - scarey.

Even when set on their highest input setting, and with the output damper set to open only when I return from home from work, the temperature in the living room rarely gets above 17c, and thats when its 5 or 6c outside, when its freezing, its just used to stop the pipes from freezing!.

Seriously, you need to strike a fine balance between daytime and nighttime units - yes you will be using more Electricitiy at night, but unless you go to bed at 8pm, you will also need to use some peak rate electricity to top up the room with outside of the E7 hours.

Of course you may find the E7 heaters do solely provide the heat you need. I tend to use rental properties which are inevitably only insulated to the bare minimum and the LL rarely spends anything on maintaining above the minimum. It all depends on how well insulated your own property it is, how cold the winter gets and of course your own personal comfort level, some people are happy sitting watching TV at 16c or 17c others may want 20c or 21c.

midlifer

Thanks for the reply.

I know I will probably find it difficult to adjust to using all electric after having had gas also but I am kind of looking forward to just getting one utility bill, plus water of course.

The flat does have cavity wall insulation and loft insulation, I am going to buy a new UPVC door and internal doors as recommended by the Surveyor.

I do not like living in a hot home, whenever I visit my Mothers flat it is unbearably hot for me. But economy 7 heating does sound difficult to control compared to gas fired central heating.

I was happy with the service I got from British Gas in my previous homes so I may stay with them when I move in. Sometimes have to wait quite w hile to get through to customer services though.

Pincher

For my post code:

Ovo

New Energy Fixed


Standing charge one year £84

Day rate 10.941p per kWh
Night Rate 5.859p per kWh

Assuming no gas supply, so no dual fuel discount.
It's also fixed, presumably for one year.

It does seem too good to be true: no excessive premium for day rate, yet you get a good night rate. And it's fixed. I would grab it quick.

macman

Use a comp site with your estimated anual kWh usage on each rate to find the best deal. Tariffs are most certainly not 'all the same cost'!
The cheapest are generally online discount tariffs with payment by fixed monthly DD.

Airmike23

Scottish power and edf are generally the best bets for e7, but as other posters have said use comp site they have facility est approx usage to gain quote.

midlifer

Pincher wrote: »

For my post code:

Ovo

New Energy Fixed


Standing charge one year £84

Day rate 10.941p per kWh
Night Rate 5.859p per kWh

Assuming no gas supply, so no dual fuel discount.
It's also fixed, presumably for one year.

It does seem too good to be true: no excessive premium for day rate, yet you get a good night rate. And it's fixed. I would grab it quick.

That deal does look good but it will probably be another 6 weeks before the contracts are exchanged and I can move in.

So I will check a comparison site nearer the time.

When I decide which company and tariff to go with how long in advance do I need to telephone the company to make sure I have electricity for when I move in, is 1 week long enough?

macman

midlifer wrote: »

That deal does look good but it will probably be another 6 weeks before the contracts are exchanged and I can move in.

So I will check a comparison site nearer the time.

When I decide which company and tariff to go with how long in advance do I need to telephone the company to make sure I have electricity for when I move in, is 1 week long enough?

No, you can't do it that way at all. On the day you move in you are in a deemed contract with the existing suppliers. Take meter readings and register with them for an account. Only then can you commence a switch, which will take 4-5 weeks.
The supplies will already be on, unless your vendor is stupid enough to ask for a disconnection.

midlifer

macman wrote: »

No, you can't do it that way at all. On the day you move in you are in a deemed contract with the existing suppliers. Take meter readings and register with them for an account. Only then can you commence a switch, which will take 4-5 weeks.
The supplies will already be on, unless your vendor is stupid enough to ask for a disconnection.

Oh really? I am glad I asked then.

I will ask the agent to e-mail the vendor to find out what company she used to use and if it is still connected or not.

When I moved into my last home 4 years ago which had Gas and Electric I telehoned BG and signed up with them for both the day I moved in, a few days later EDF (who supplied the previous owner) rang me to see if I wanted to use them, I told them I already signed up with BG. EGF were great about it and said I was welcome to come back to them anytime.

I don't remember if the supply had been cut off or not, it was empty for 3 months so maybe.

macman

It is not normal to disconnect the supply, if that is done you will be stuck with large charges for reconnection. If emply for a few weeks then all the vendor has to do is turn off the gas at the stopcock and the electricity at the CU.