Tariff

guiseppi

This is specifically for SHC (storage heating control) tariff.
I don't know how old or available this tariff is, but I'm on it.
Basically it is for storage heaters and immersion on a separate meter from general appliances. This comes on at off-peak times throughout the day, controlled by radio teleswitch.

In winter (now) it comes on at approx. times:

0400-0800, 1245-1600, 1845-1930

In summer, times will be different.
These are all charged at a lower rate, just over half normal rate.
(about 8 pence per kWh)

The reason for my post is advice.
Our bills were always very high, yet our flat quite cold.
This is because the normal and general advice surrounding how to use storage heaters does not apply with this tariff/service.
For years we had been assured that we were 'doing it right' but that is simply wrong.
To put it simply: turn your output up to half or more and adjust the input up gradually until you reach a good temp (mines about half way in very cold weather now) Following the normal storage heater advice burns up electric at ridiculous rates without even heating your house much!
Just experimenting with this can reduce bills over 50% in winter from previous years! Turning down the thermostat on the hot water helps as well, but a timer to switch it off a lot of the time helps more.

Actual measured saving: from 26kWh!! per day => 11-15kWh per day (winter)

Be_Happy

I was on this system many years ago. It's operation may have changed since then, but I don't think so and in this case you have come on the Forum advising people to do something which is illegal and leaves them open to prosecution.

The separate circuit for storage heaters, imersion, etc can have other items permanently wired into it, but ONLY things used for heating and water heating eg electric fires, shower, washing machine, etc. It is not for miscellaneous electric items such as a fridge.

guiseppi

Ah. Such is life.
We're told it's all illegal, but we are never told the actual law...

HappyMJ

guiseppi wrote: »

This is specifically for SHC (storage heating control) tariff.
I don't know how old or available this tariff is, but I'm on it.
Basically it is for storage heaters and immersion on a separate meter from general appliances. This comes on at off-peak times throughout the day, controlled by radio teleswitch.

In winter (now) it comes on at approx. times:

0400-0800, 1245-1600, 1845-1930

In summer, times will be different.
These are all charged at a lower rate, just over half normal rate.
(about 8 pence per kWh)

The reason for my post is advice.
Our bills were always very high, yet our flat quite cold.
This is because the normal and general advice surrounding how to use storage heaters does not apply with this tariff/service.
For years we had been assured that we were 'doing it right' but that is simply wrong.
To put it simply: turn your output up to half or more and adjust the input up gradually until you reach a good temp (mines about half way in very cold weather now) Following the normal storage heater advice burns up electric at ridiculous rates without even heating your house much!
Just experimenting with this can reduce bills over 50% in winter from previous years! Turning down the thermostat on the hot water helps as well, but a timer to switch it off a lot of the time helps more.

You still need to turn the output down when you don't want heat especially when you are out and at night.

However, that tariff on any usage profile is never cheaper than E7 or even using a standard tariff and just using the electric heating whenever needed so I would recommend you change the meter for a normal meter and then switch to a better tariff.

guiseppi

I get confused with all these other tariffs, even (or more likely, especially) after going to confused.com

How much <real> savings are likely with another tariff, considering that I've spent two weeks finally tweaking and monitoring this one down to about as low as it can go?

I do want to install a wood burning stove asap, with backboiler to heat water indirectly and maybe distribute heat to another room (wet). One with a hotplate on top would also save the obvious energy waste of boiling a kettle and soup and stews (in winter)
I can easily gather enough fallen beech and ash locally for free firewood for years to come..

No tariff or gas CH would beat that option?

HappyMJ

guiseppi wrote: »

I get confused with all these other tariffs, even (or more likely, especially) after going to confused.com

How much <real> savings are likely with another tariff, considering that I've spent two weeks finally tweaking and monitoring this one down to about as low as it can go?

I do want to install a wood burning stove asap, with backboiler to heat water indirectly and maybe distribute heat to another room (wet). One with a hotplate on top would also save the obvious energy waste of boiling a kettle and soup and stews (in winter)
I can easily gather enough fallen beech and ash locally for free firewood for years to come..

No tariff or gas CH would beat that option?

Add up all the units used at each rate then put that figure into a comparison website on a standard meter. Best rate you will find is 10p with some conditions such as online billing and monthly direct debit with a fixed minimum term and typically is 12p for a standard tariff.

Then try again with E7 by using the heat figures and the night figures combined as the new night rate and the current day figure can remain the same. The typical rate you will find is about 5p for the night units and 15p for the day units. Your usage profile may find some better tariffs.

Ignore the annual savings and look at the total bill, the tariff rates and standing charges and you will manually have to compare all the options.

Wood stoves are great but they typically provide an alternative source of heat the electric will still be used for some heat such as for hot water in the summer. Gas is much cheaper but it may not be an option?

guiseppi

Thanks. Gas could be an option, but the upheaval of all wooden floors and restricted space looks too much to bear, as well as the prohibitive install costs of such a system.

I have other reasons for wanting to get partly 'off grid'.
The 'stove would near completely remove the need for paying the utilities for this power. I'd rather pay a local business for logs, if it came to that!