Help me understand my tariff and how to get cheaper??

stucuk

Hi,

I live in a classic three bed semi in West Oxfordshire which has storage heaters and the wierdest electricity set up I've ever come across!

I have one fairly modern looking meter that has, apparently, three tariffs. I currently am with EOn and they simply call the three tariffs day, night and RHT. I understand what RHT is and how, I believe, it is used in my house.

My current tariff is called 'E.On RHT EnergyPlan 26' and the prices are quoted as:-
25.662p Day units up to 900 KWhs per year
15.992p Day units
6.447p Night units
17.052p RHT Standing Charge per day
8.831p RHT normal
I assume, although I have no evidence except from consumption, that the RHT covers my storage heaters, the night covers the immersion heater and the day covers everything else.

In the last year I have used 9035KWhs of electricity and it has cost me £1027 i.e. it's too bloomin' expensive! It is also not very good at actually keeping the house warm and just about everything has been done to insulate and reduce costs. I am looking to put in a 'normal' heating system but I have at least one more winter to go through.

So, do any other suppliers besides EOn actually provide an RHT tariff? There are certain posts that imply not but if that's the case how come the previous owner was with Scottish Electric? Also how do I find out when the night and RHT tariffs kick on and off? Then, assuming I can change supplier, who gives the best deal and how do I approach them since I realise I can't use comparison sites but I read a number of the suppliers don't seem to even understand RHT! (It took EOn about three months to actually work out how it all worked here)

Any thoughts, comments, ideas or suggestions will be most greatfully received. Many thanks.

Stu ...

good_advice

Hello Stucuk, you seem to have a lot of hurdles there!
I think you need to do some research! Start with phoning E.ON and asking the timings of the meters. Also ask what will happen when the smart meters roll out? Can you not ask to change to one electric meter?

How old are the storage heaters? I am thinking if they are old, could you not put in radiators?

In a classic 3 bed semi, you could have a coal fire? Have you got one you could use to cut the fuel bills down.

£1027 is a lot for just electric... My advice, buy an OWL monitor, I love using mine and has helped visually to reduce the electric bill.

Wolf3

As far as i recall the 'E.On RHT EnergyPlan 26' relates to a dynamic meter tariff but i would check with Eon just to make sure.
The Day/Night part of your tariff relates to economy 7 timings for your normal day to day part of your electricity tariff. You might find the RHT part relates to your off peak storage heaters and your immersion heater as the immersion heater is often wired into this part of the circuit.
With these meters you could possibly find there are more than the 3 readings on the meter, Eon are presumably just charging the off peak parts at the same rates for ease of use and understanding.
An total annual consumption of 9035 kWh with all electric heating is quite reasonable for this types of meter, as they are "comfort" meters, not Economy meters. I would get a private electrician to see if the heating/hot water system can be rewired after confirming you have a dynamic meter at your property and if the electrician gives the thumbs up, get your supplier to change your meter to a single or dual E7 meter. If not i would look at more efficient ways to reduce your heating, hard to visualise with the cold weather on the way
As you have read in other posts it is very difficult to change suppliers or tariffs with this meter in place. (edit) on a side note these tariffs are variable so you could not protect yourself from any price rises (edit) AFAIK only Eon and Scottish Power accept new customers on these meters and only in certain areas. Which is possibly how the supply was with SP previously. It wasnt that long ago all supplier had the correct tariff's and legally speaking, i believe they have to offer you a quote, unfortunately they can get around this by saying they can't offer a cheaper quote.
My grandad used to have one of these comfort meters and was advised by an energy supplier a number of years ago they would charge him at the unrestricted rate for all his energy useage so the couldnt possibly offer a cheaper tariff!!!

pooch

stucuk wrote: »

Hi,

I live in a classic three bed semi in West Oxfordshire which has storage heaters and the wierdest electricity set up I've ever come across!

I have one fairly modern looking meter that has, apparently, three tariffs. I currently am with EOn and they simply call the three tariffs day, night and RHT. I understand what RHT is and how, I believe, it is used in my house.

My current tariff is called 'E.On RHT EnergyPlan 26' and the prices are quoted as:-
25.662p Day units up to 900 KWhs per year
15.992p Day units
6.447p Night units
17.052p RHT Standing Charge per day
8.831p RHT normal
I assume, although I have no evidence except from consumption, that the RHT covers my storage heaters, the night covers the immersion heater and the day covers everything else.

In the last year I have used 9035KWhs of electricity and it has cost me £1027 i.e. it's too bloomin' expensive! It is also not very good at actually keeping the house warm and just about everything has been done to insulate and reduce costs. I am looking to put in a 'normal' heating system but I have at least one more winter to go through.

So, do any other suppliers besides EOn actually provide an RHT tariff? There are certain posts that imply not but if that's the case how come the previous owner was with Scottish Electric? Also how do I find out when the night and RHT tariffs kick on and off? Then, assuming I can change supplier, who gives the best deal and how do I approach them since I realise I can't use comparison sites but I read a number of the suppliers don't seem to even understand RHT! (It took EOn about three months to actually work out how it all worked here)

Any thoughts, comments, ideas or suggestions will be most greatfully received. Many thanks.

Stu ...

See this thread, in particular post #2 by YoYoY
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4211835

[Deleted User]

If its a digital meter, with rates 1 , 2, and T for total will default to show the rate in progress by either displaying the current rate or by blinking curser which indicates the rate as the meter scrolls round. Also look to see how the timings are controlled. If its a radio teleswitch timer they are accurate, the old style analogue 24 hr clock timers are rarely on the correct time ( check pointer at bottom to see what time it thinks it is ) Latest digital meters have built in clocks which are mostly correct

stucuk

Thanks for your replies so far all:-

Good Advice - I only have one meter - it is a fairly new looking digital meter, but it is not a smart meter. The storage heaters are about 25 years old I believe (although the house was built in 1952) and I do intend to put radiators in but that won't be until at least next summer. I do have an EOn Electricity Monitor from my old house but I could never get it to read anything at this place and, I presume, I would need three clips but, as it will only take one rating and give one display, it would be of limited use anyway? Will an OWL monitor cover this sort of set up? Which one would I want anyway?

Wolf3 - There are definately only three readings on the meter, you cycle through them and, although some are displayed more than once, there is only a test display, a date / time display and three sets of numbers i.e. the meter readings.

Pooch - Blimey even more confusing! :-) So does that mean it is still cheaper to run everything other than storage heaters at night? If the immersion heater and heaters are all on the RHT then the cheapest rate would be at night so to reduce costs I can determine the night times and do washing, etc. at night??

Sacsquacco - It is digital with an LCD display, interesting re the blinking indicating current rate but if my heaters are on a seperate tariff and I have a night tariff and am using a wall plug for something else then I could be using two tariffs at once?? As one of the displays is date and time I suspect it does have a built in clock.

Again thanks to all, any replies or further comments greatly received!

Stu ...