Advice needed on storage heater tarrifs

Likestowrite

We are an all electricity household with one storage heater that runs on a seperate economy meter.

The 2 meters are shown seperately on my bill but the economy one doesn't have a name so I don't know if it's economy 7 or economy 10 or exactly what it is. All I know is that it's costing 4.250 pence per kilowatt hour (standard usage) and the normal meter is 12.354 pence per kilowatt hour.(standard usage)

I'm puzzled because the storage heater, which is the only thing linked to the economy meter, is set to come on from 7.30 pm to 8am and again in the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm.
Does this mean I'm getting 15 1/2 hours at the economy rate of 4.250 per kw hour? I keep reading that storage heaters are generally set for 7 or 10 hours so worried that I might somehow be paying a high rate for the extra hours.

I recently lost my husband who set up the account so I'm struggling to figure this out.

Terrylw1

Have you got 2 MPAN's on your bill? Does your tariff show as a Standard Rate with some form of additional White Meter, Off Peak, RHT, etc.

If it does, as long as the storage heating is the only thing wired to that circuit in your consumer unit, it will only be charged at the date for that meter as long as they are separate meters.

If you have E10, again, how many MPAN's? This is important because more complex E10's have 3-4 rates and your storage heating would be in the Heat rates only.

misterbarlow

some spilt meter RHT setups did go up to 15hrs off peak...
usually the outgoing terminal of the offpeak meter only supplies the incomng load terminal of the timing device, meaning it literally only gives any output during offpeak times, but ANY units used are ALL at offpeak price...
Not always but usually there should be a sticker somewhere on the timing device specifying the offpeak hours.

macman

Who is the supplier?

NiftyDigits

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Have you got 2 MPAN's on your bill? Does your tariff show as a Standard Rate with some form of additional White Meter, Off Peak, RHT, etc.

If it does, as long as the storage heating is the only thing wired to that circuit in your consumer unit, it will only be charged at the date for that meter as long as they are separate meters.

If you have E10, again, how many MPAN's? This is important because more complex E10's have 3-4 rates and your storage heating would be in the Heat rates only.

Try to send you a PM, but your Inbox is full.

Likestowrite

Thank you for those replies.
Both meters look the same and are labelled single phase watt hour meter. There is a big black domed time switch linked to the meter that records storage heater use, and on this big black time switch is a sticker saying :this is set as near as practicable to the following hours: 7.30pm - to 8am 1.00pm to 4pm
I get two bills --one for each meter --which arrive together in the same envelope.

Not sure what the MPAN is. On each bill, near where it says supply number and tarrif there is a big letter S followed by a box containing 2 lines of numbers. The top number is 8 digits long And the row of numbers underneath is 13 digits long.The numbers are almost the same on each bill except the last 3 digits in each row are different.

The supplier is Utility Warehouse.

Cleared out my inbox-- sorry, I didn't realise it was full.

Wolf3

It certainly seems like you have a 15 hour off peak meter based on the description on the meter plus the fact you receive 2 separate bills. The supply number or MPAN is the bottom number on each bill which is 13 numbers long.
with regards to the tariff i wouldn't concern yourself with looking at E7 or E10 prices, as this is not your meter setup.
You will be paying an Unrestricted rate for your normal meter and a specialised off peak rate for the 15 hours you can use on your off peak meter. although i find it a bit strange you are receiving 2 separate energy bills.
These 15 hour off peak meters were originally devised when electricity was cheap and originally called "comfort" meters as i recall. so you get a period at night to charge up the storage heater and a 3 hour boost in the afternoon.
With this meter setup you will find it very difficult to change suppliers as it is a non-standard meter with two supply numbers and most energy companies would not be willing to give you a quote because of it.
You state you only have 1 night storage heater in the property so i would give serious consideration in asking your energy supplier to change the meter to an E7 meter, this will give you greater choice in the tariffs you can choose and be able to opt for a fixed price deal.
the downside to this change of course will mean the storage heater will only have a maximum of 7 hours to charge not the 15 you currently get, so you will have to mange the settings of the storage heater more efficiently

Likestowrite

Thank you. That's very helpful. Am I paying a lot for the normal meter that all the rest of ther electricity runs off at 12.354 pence per kilowatt hour? (standard usage)

I only actually get one bill, but the costs for each of the 2 meters are shown sepearately, like individual bills (and then they are combined into one bill on the other side of the paper.)

I can't see an MPAN number on the bottom of the bill. The only 13 didgit number is in the lower part of the box containing 2 lines of numbers on each bill:

01 530 111
23 7032 3830 625 on the cheaper meter bill and

01 500 100
23 7032 3830 616 on the normal meter bill

Wywth

Likestowrite wrote: »

Thank you for those replies.
Both meters look the same and are labelled single phase watt hour meter. There is a big black domed time switch linked to the meter that records storage heater use, and on this big black time switch is a sticker saying :this is set as near as practicable to the following hours: 7.30pm - to 8am 1.00pm to 4pm
I get two bills --one for each meter --which arrive together in the same envelope.

Not sure what the MPAN is. On each bill, near where it says supply number and tarrif there is a big letter S followed by a box containing 2 lines of numbers. The top number is 8 digits long And the row of numbers underneath is 13 digits long.The numbers are almost the same on each bill except the last 3 digits in each row are different.

The supplier is Utility Warehouse.

Cleared out my inbox-- sorry, I didn't realise it was full.

Oh dear, switches to other suppliers with your set up invariably end in tears.

I don't know when you did this but I'd get the tissues ready now if I were you

Wolf3

Am I paying a lot for the normal meter that all the rest of ther electricity runs off at 12.354 pence per kilowatt hour? (standard usage)

I'm pretty sure you could get it cheaper but it will be very difficult to get any supplier to accept your cheaper off peak meter

23 7032 3830 616

This is your Primary MPAN (Supply number)

23 7032 3830 625

and this is your Secondary MPAN (Supply number)

01 500 100 and 01 530 111

these 8 digit numbers basically tell the energy suppliers what type of meter is installed on that MPAN.

as Wywth said switches generally end in tears as the requesting supplier will only apply for the primary MPAN. Then your current supplier will reject the request because of the related Secondary MPAN not being applied for. In worst case scenario's your current supplier doesn't reject the request and the transfer goes through then the supply has to be sent back under the Erroneous Transfer process.

I'm getting ahead of myself here are you even wanting to switch?? Or just wanting advice on your meter set up.

In any case, as i said previously i would give serious consideration to changing to an E7 meter and most suppliers wont charge you for this convenience. Giving you a greater choice in the tariffs you can pick from and be cheaper in the long run

grahamc2003

Likestowrite wrote: »

Thank you. That's very helpful. Am I paying a lot for the normal meter that all the rest of ther electricity runs off at 12.354 pence per kilowatt hour? (standard usage)

I only actually get one bill, but the costs for each of the 2 meters are shown sepearately, like individual bills (and then they are combined into one bill on the other side of the paper.)

I can't see an MPAN number on the bottom of the bill. The only 13 didgit number is in the lower part of the box containing 2 lines of numbers on each bill:

01 530 111
23 7032 3830 625 on the cheaper meter bill and

01 500 100
23 7032 3830 616 on the normal meter bill

To answer your question, imo on the basis of what has been written so far, no, your tariff isn't too bad and no, your day rate isn't too bad either.

There are pros and cons with your tariff (as it appears to be). The biggest pro is that you get a cheap (very cheap these days) rate boost to your storage heater in the afternoon. That may make the difference (depending on the age of the storage heater, and how good you are at controlling it), between your heating being acceptable and unacceptable. The main complain about SH is that they run out of heat during the evening (because E7 doesn't give you the pm boost, and older models often can't hold enough heat). A con with your tariff is the slightly high day rate - but nothing to panic about, plenty of people pay more. Just watch out for the increases currently being announced - ring your supplier, ask him for the name of your tariff, and watch the rates after the increases which are coming - the lack of competition may cause a big increase, no one knows until announced.

As others have said, a switch to E7 will give you a large choice of suppliers to switch to (as opposed to possibly no choice on your current tariff). The downside of e7 is the lack of a pm boost (something all e7 users wish for!).

I think I would sit out the winter on your current tariff (since you'll make more use of your cheap rate units, and the day boost is worth a lot in the winter), switch to e7 with your current supplier in the spring, do a price comparison once you're on e7, and get the best rate/ longest fixed rate deal being offered at that time.l