Removing economy 7 meter

Kleky

I was hoping someone can help - I've bought my first flat and it has two meters as it has electric storage heaters. I want to remove the second meter as I'm installing gas so do I just let the energy company take it away or should I get an electrician to change anything first?

Thanks folks

pooch

Kleky wrote: »

I was hoping someone can help - I've bought my first flat and it has two meters as it has electric storage heaters. I want to remove the second meter as I'm installing gas so do I just let the energy company take it away or should I get an electrician to change anything first?

Thanks folks

I would suggest you discuss the current installation first with your electrician, and at the same time double check by using the comparison sites if you would in fact be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Be aware, even if you do find a single rate tariff is better value for you, not all suppliers will need a meter change, so check with whichever supplier to plan to use.

Cardew

Depending on the wiring of your flat it might not be an easy job. Also you or 'your' electrician cannot remove meters(unless you want to grow cannabis in your bedroom!)

In any case many Utility companies will move you to a single tariff and add the two readings together. e.g 500kWh on off-peak and 2,000kWh on daytime meter will be treated as 2,500kWh on a single rate tariff.

Also depending on usage, an Economy 7 tariff can be cheaper even with gas CH.

dogshome

It's an absolute must that on the day the Gas heating/hotwater is commissioned and up and running, that you inform your Elec supplier of the change - Do this by Email or letter so that you have a record.

The Elec supplier will do one of two things:
The proper way
Change the meters for a 'Standard' one, which will take some weeks
The Cheap fix
Bill you at Standard meter rates by adding the Day/Night readings together.
As this is only a change in the way your supplier charges you and doesn't alter the central records of what meter is in what property, it will cause problems if you Switch supplier or for any new owner of your house.

If you give them the meter readings on 'change-over' day, you can possibly get them to charge you on the Cheap Fix basis whilst you are waiting for a new meter to be fitted

pooch

dogshome wrote: »

It's an absolute must that on the day the Gas heating/hotwater is commissioned and up and running, that you inform your Elec supplier of the change ...

Why? :huh:

Cardew

pooch wrote: »

Why? :huh:

Agree, there are many people with Gas CH who are better off on an Economy 7 tariff.

On the best fix available(Scottish Power 2014) a customer in Midlands using the UK average consumption(16500/3300kWh) is better off on Economy 7 using only 15% on night rate.

It is not difficult to use 25% of off-peak consumption if you have to get up early and put appliances on overnight etc.

Terrylw1

You remove any off peak load running to the off peak meter. Then contact your supplier. They won't fit a standard meter since you've already got one wire to the 24hr circuit so they just remove the off peak meter and Logically disconnect its MPAN.

Just make sure you have a standard + off peak meter arrangement to follow this advice. If you have a dual MPAN set up but its a combined tariff such as E10, both meters would need removing in favour of a standard one.

JethroUK

We have gas central heating but still use Economy 7 because nights units are less than 1/3 of std units and standing charge is only slightly increased

You dont need to remove the meters just because you are removing the electric heaters - the tarrif you choose governs your price not how many meters

You might choose not to have economy 7 on your tarrif (in which case, as already said they just add both together) - but you might find it cheaper

I'm sure i worked out once that just leaving the fridge/freezer on made E7 worth while - in our case we have lights on all night every night surrounding our home, about 6 in the garden and another 3 or 4 out front and couple inside low consumption bulbs (still nice when you come home from hols tho), and we set washing machine and dishwasher to come on during E7 units, immersion heater on timer boils enough water for the next day, fridge/freezer, TV recorder, 5 phones on charge

deffo worth E7 for us

macman

JethroUK wrote: »

We have gas central heating but still use Economy 7 because nights units are less than 1/3 of std units and standing charge is only slightly increased

You dont need to remove the meters just because you are removing the electric heaters - the tarrif you choose governs your price not how many meters

You might choose not to have economy 7 on your tarrif (in which case, as already said they just add both together) - but you might find it cheaper

I'm sure i worked out once that just leaving the fridge/freezer on made E7 worth while - in our case we have lights on all night every night surrounding our home, about 6 in the garden and another 3 or 4 out front and couple inside low consumption bulbs (still nice when you come home from hols tho), and we set washing machine and dishwasher to come on during E7 units, immersion heater on timer boils enough water for the next day, fridge/freezer, TV recorder, 5 phones on charge

deffo worth E7 for us

But the day rate is higher. And skwewing your figures by leaving dozens of lights on overnight doesn't make for a very valid comparison.

Cardew

JethroUK wrote: »

You might choose not to have economy 7 on your tarrif (in which case, as already said they just add both together) - but you might find it cheaper

It is worth pointing out that not all companies will add the consumption shown on both meters together.

E-On and BG will - not sure on others.

Wywth

macman wrote: »

But the day rate is higher. ....

But only marginally, typically up to about 10%

So up to 10% more for 17/24 of the day

and a whopping 60-70% less for 7/24 of the day

I'm sure you can do the maths