Economy 7: Is it worthwhile? Your views pls!

Former_MSE_Marcel

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

In most cases with properly used ToS water & space heating - YES



Break even [ToS by supplier] points :

British Gas 45%
Cooperative Energy - 35%
Ebico - 33%
Ecotricity - 20-35% [depending on the region]
EDF Energy - 20-30% [depending on region and consumption profile]
EON - 34%
First Utility - Don't offer an Economy 7 tariff
Good Energy - 15 to 40% [depending on region and consumption profile]
LoCo2 - 13 to 20%
npower - 35%
OVO - 30%
Scottish Power - 15%
Spark Energy - Don't offer an Economy 7 tariff
SSE - 35%
Utility Warehouse - 40% [35% for low users]

Thanks to all who replied to this thread, Richie-from-the-Boro can I ask how you calculated these figures above? Was it a matter of getting the average national Economy rates for peak and off-peak from each supplier, then working out the proportion of off-peak usage per KwH to get these percentages? Apologies if I'm asking the bleedin' obvious

diamond_dave

I have a rental property where the tenants have just left.They had a prepayment meter installed(without my permission) because the bills were high. On checking the new meter, I have noticed that the meter is set for GMT and according to EDF the charging period for the low /Night rate runs from 12.00 to 7.00 GMT which means that at the moment it runs from 1.00am to 8.00am BST.Thus if you use say washing machine,immersion,etc at 12.00 thinking it will be cheaper, you are,in fact, paying 3 times the price for that hour.I wonder how many people know this?

marmitepotato

I have an E7 meter. No storage heaters or even a hot water tank. My E7 hours are from 11.30pm to 3.30am, then 5.30 am to 8.30 am. During these times, my washing is on, my dishwasher is going, all my vacuuming, and ironing is done. I have combi heating with a power shower and always shower during the off peak times. All our mobiles and tablets are charged off peak. If I am early enough, my bread is made, proved and baked all before peak times. My last bill showed that I had used as many off peak units as I had peak units. Off peak being 6.13 per kw and peak being 13.4per kw. For me it's a way of life....

Torry_Quine

marmitepotato wrote: »

I have an E7 meter. No storage heaters or even a hot water tank. My E7 hours are from 11.30pm to 3.30am, then 5.30 am to 8.30 am. During these times, my washing is on, my dishwasher is going, all my vacuuming, and ironing is done. I have combi heating with a power shower and always shower during the off peak times. All our mobiles and tablets are charged off peak. If I am early enough, my bread is made, proved and baked all before peak times. My last bill showed that I had used as many off peak units as I had peak units. Off peak being 6.13 per kw and peak being 13.4per kw. For me it's a way of life....

Glad I don't live near you.

Seriously though the fire brigade recommends not using a wshing machine when you are asleep just in case of fire. Mind you if you are doing the the ironing and vacuuming when do you sleep.

I have storage heaters but don't specifically put on any appliances at night.

marmitepotato

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Glad I don't live near you.

Seriously though the fire brigade recommends not using a wshing machine when you are asleep just in case of fire. Mind you if you are doing the the ironing and vacuuming when do you sleep.

I have storage heaters but don't specifically put on any appliances at night.

I am a very early riser, always have been. Nearly all the washing and dish washing is done when I get up at 5.30, along with the vacuuming and ironing. The mobiles and tablets are on timers. We live in a semi and I have asked my neighbour if they can hear my early morning noise, and they can't. Lucky that we live in a house built in the 50's when walls were solid and pretty soundproof.

Cardew

marmitepotato wrote: »

I have an E7 meter. No storage heaters or even a hot water tank.

I have combi heating with a power shower and always shower during the off peak times. ....

On a point of clarification, a power shower takes hot water from a tank and pumps it at high pressure to the shower head.

I suspect you have an electric shower, i.e. it is supplied with cold water which it heats in the shower.

marmitepotato

No, the hot water comes from the combi boiler.

Cardew

marmitepotato wrote: »

No, the hot water comes from the combi boiler.

I have combi heating with a power shower and always shower during the off peak
times

Then how is it a 'power shower'?

and how does it help to shower during the off-peak period when the hot water comes from a combi?

lstar337

diamond_dave wrote: »

I have a rental property where the tenants have just left.They had a prepayment meter installed(without my permission) because the bills were high. On checking the new meter, I have noticed that the meter is set for GMT and according to EDF the charging period for the low /Night rate runs from 12.00 to 7.00 GMT which means that at the moment it runs from 1.00am to 8.00am BST.Thus if you use say washing machine,immersion,etc at 12.00 thinking it will be cheaper, you are,in fact, paying 3 times the price for that hour.I wonder how many people know this?

If it is set-up properly, the timer in the meter will be in control of the heaters/hot water tank. No interaction is required from the user, except if you want to set some of your home appliances to use cheap rate units.

Our clock doesn't change either. I have to change the timers for 1 heater and the tumble drier. But it is not like it happens often.

marmitepotato

Cardew wrote: »

Then how is it a 'power shower'?

and how does it help to shower during the off-peak period when the hot water comes from a combi?

It has an electric pump in it that mixes hot and cold water to the set temperature. A flashing light tells you it's the right temperature to get in. That's how it's cheaper to use on E7. The gas isn't cheaper but the electric is.