Econ 7 meter - how does it work?

ally18

Hi,

I wondered if someone could advise please.

I gave in my electric and gas readings to my supplier yesterday for an updated bill and whilst on the phone, the person mentioned I may be better off not being on an econ 7 tariff because apparently I don't use sufficient elect at night. He explained basically it works by me still giving both readings but I would be charged for both uses at a cheaper rate than I am paying now.

Btw, I have always signed up to an econ 7 tariff purely as I thought that was best. I always do my washing and drying during the econ hours (or so I thought).

Anyway to see how it was going, I decided to write down my readings last night and I noticed something.

At 11.15pm, the time I thought econ 7 ran, I put on the washer and the tumble dryer and noted the readings of
94302-6 for day use and
23041-8 for night.
After an hour when they both finished, my readings were as follows
94304-5 for day use and
23043-4 for night.
Why would the day units be used when econ 7 was supposed to be in place? I don't understand how exactly the meter works, obviously there isn't a clock on it so how does it know when the night units are in use?

Can anyone explain please. Sorry for a daft question.

Thanks

penrhyn

Economy 7 timing vary from area to area. Where I am in the East Midlands the cheap period was between 1 am and 8 am GMT.

victor2

Your switch over to E7 rate probably didn't happen until a bit later. If the switching is done by the meter it won't always happen at the time you expect. You would however get the full 7 hours at the cheaper rate, just not at the times you expect.
The night time rate is much lower than a standard rate, but the day time rate is higher. E7 is usually not beneficial unless you have something like storage heaters set to recharge only on the cheap rate.
What % split between day and night use does your most recent bill show? You are typically looking for around 35% night time use for E7 to work out cheaper.

macman

E7 is (as the name implies) 7 hours, usually between midnight and 8am.
What the adviser is saying is that you don't need a meter change-your cheap rate and peak rate readings will be totalled and you are charged on a single rate tariff on that total.
E7 is primarily for people with storage heaters and an immersion heater. If you have gas CH and DHW, then it's unlikely (though not impossible) that E7 is any cheaper. Typically you need to use about 33% minimum on cheapr rate to make E7 pay. Al you need to do is total your annual kWh consumption on each rate from your bills and calculate the percentage split. Then put the figures into any comp site with your tariff, once for single rate and once for E7 with the split you calculated. The total bill calculation for each will tell you if the adviser was correct.
If you do switch away from E7 and then switch supplier, bear in mind that some will require a meter change if you wish to remain on a single rate tariff.
It sounds as if your meter is tele-switched.There should be a red LED on it showing which register it is running on (1 or 2). That will switch over at the relevant times (which in your case would appear to be midnight, if usage between 11.15pm and 12.15am was split across both registers). So your E7 hours are currently midnight to 7am.

ally18

victor2 wrote: »

What % split between day and night use does your most recent bill show? You are typically looking for around 35% night time use for E7 to work out cheaper.

Well, my latest usage is 344kw of night use to 1198 kw of day use. That is from August 12 to yesterday's reading. So, I guess from that it isn't worth my while to be on econ 7 tariffs anymore.

I can't believe I've been so daft really as I like to think I am as savvy as I can be regarding utility bills. I always look for the cheapest but never realised I would be better off not on econ 7. Oooer

My tariff is currently fixed until 21 May 13 and there is an exit fee I believe so I will now have to work out whether its best to leave now or wait.

And I have forced myself to stay up late at night to do washing and drying :rotfl:. I was told my econ 7 times were 11pm till 6am as well so that was obviously wrong too.

Thanks for your replies.

As a last question though, how is the meter set to the times of econ 7 though? Does the time stay the same within each region ie electric board and when the meter is put in, its already set up?

ally18

Just out of interest, I checked my previous bill which went from 22 April to 14 August and the usage was 266kw for night use and 1100kw for day use. So I would say I'm averaging about just less than 30% of night use over the year.

So, I either stay up later and get things done within the correct econ 7 timeframe or change tariffs

Wywth

ally18 wrote: »

Hi,

I wondered if someone could advise please.

I gave in my electric and gas readings to my supplier yesterday for an updated bill and whilst on the phone, the person mentioned I may be better off not being on an econ 7 tariff because apparently I don't use sufficient elect at night. He explained basically it works by me still giving both readings but I would be charged for both uses at a cheaper rate than I am paying now.

Btw, I have always signed up to an econ 7 tariff purely as I thought that was best. I always do my washing and drying during the econ hours (or so I thought).

Anyway to see how it was going, I decided to write down my readings last night and I noticed something.

At 11.15pm, the time I thought econ 7 ran, I put on the washer and the tumble dryer and noted the readings of
94302-6 for day use and
23041-8 for night.
After an hour when they both finished, my readings were as follows
94304-5 for day use and
23043-4 for night.
Why would the day units be used when econ 7 was supposed to be in place? I don't understand how exactly the meter works, obviously there isn't a clock on it so how does it know when the night units are in use?

Can anyone explain please. Sorry for a daft question.

Thanks

As already advised, E7 timings do vary by region (but you always get 7 hours cheap rate)

Also you may find you are switched by a clock on your own meter that may not be set correctly.

The meter should indicate which registry is recording consumption.
Youre meter changed rates within the washing & drying cycle.

Wywth

ally18 wrote: »

Well, my latest usage is 344kw of night use to 1198 kw of day use. That is from August 12 to yesterday's reading. So, I guess from that it isn't worth my while to be on econ 7 tariffs anymore.

I can't believe I've been so daft really as I like to think I am as savvy as I can be regarding utility bills. I always look for the cheapest but never realised I would be better off not on econ 7. Oooer

My tariff is currently fixed until 21 May 13 and there is an exit fee I believe so I will now have to work out whether its best to leave now or wait.

And I have forced myself to stay up late at night to do washing and drying :rotfl:. I was told my econ 7 times were 11pm till 6am as well so that was obviously wrong too.

Thanks for your replies.

As a last question though, how is the meter set to the times of econ 7 though? Does the time stay the same within each region ie electric board and when the meter is put in, its already set up?

Does your washing machine have a delayed start facility? Some do.
If not, can you buy a timer and use that? (It works with some washers, but not all)

ally18

Hi,

No, I don't have a delay timer on the washer and I can't access the plug to put a timer on as it is beyond reach unless I move the washer. Last time I did that, I ripped a hole in the new flooring so not doing that!

I've just been speaking to my supplier who have said that my econ timings are from 12am to 7am and that they change when the clocks go back/forward. So that explains that last night. They have also said I may be able to change over to a different tariff without any penalty so what I have to do now is decide which one and inform them when their system is updated. (np is currently in the process of new systems again).

Many thanks for all the replies.

rogerblack

ally18 wrote: »

Hi,

No, I don't have a delay timer on the washer and I can't access the plug to put a timer on as it is beyond reach unless I move the washer. Last time I did that, I ripped a hole in the new flooring so not doing that!

Doing this can be very easy - however - you need to secure on the floor something like a thin sheet of hardboard onto which you slide the machine.
This way the floor under it can't be scuffed.

macman

ally18 wrote: »

Just out of interest, I checked my previous bill which went from 22 April to 14 August and the usage was 266kw for night use and 1100kw for day use. So I would say I'm averaging about just less than 30% of night use over the year.

So, I either stay up later and get things done within the correct econ 7 timeframe or change tariffs

You really need to look at a whole year's consumption to get the percentage, otherwise there are seasonal distortions. All the info is on your annual statement.
There is no fixed break-even point for E7, it depends on supplier, tariff and region-which is why I suggested that the only way to be sure is to spend 5 mins on a comp site to find out. 30% may be enough on some tariffs, not on others. In winter quarters, your peak rate consumption will probably be higher.
You should be able to switch from E7 to single rate without an exit fee, as you are not changing your actual tariff.